Bangladesh to construct 21 power plants

Government is constructing 47 power plants having 13,771 MW generation capacity and those will begin operation in phases from 2018 to 2024, says Hamid.

In Bangladesh, Plan to construct 21 power plants, including private sector ones is underway to generate 23,252 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The present government constructed 85 power plants having a capacity of 11,104 MW after taking time-befitting, realistic and sustainable steps.

State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the government is constructing 47 power plants having 13,771 MW generation capacity and those will begin operation in phases from 2018 to 2024.

The State Minister also said that currently, the country's power generation capacity reaches 16,046 MW while about 90 percent people of the country were brought under power coverage. And this has been possible due to the bold and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain said some 30 power plants with a capacity of 5,092 MW are under tender process. We expect that the plants would come to operation from 2018 to 2022 in phases. Adding to that at present, 63 power plants with a capacity of 15,967 MW are under construction.

Hossain further added that 20 power plants having a capacity of 7,857 MW are being constructed under public sector while 43 plants with a capacity of 8,110 MW under private sector.

The power cell officials said that the government has launched prepaid metering system and by 2021, the entire electricity distribution system will be brought under the prepaid metering system.