10 power plants on govt's priority list
 
Projects undertaken by past 2 govts to be implemented
 
Unb, DhakaAs part of its efforts to resolve the country's chronic
power crisis, the new government is set to implement 10 power plant
projects initiated by previous governments.

According to official sources, agreements had been signed by the
previous governments with a number of donor agencies to implement the
projects. Eight of the projects will be implemented in the public
sector while two in the private sector.

The proposed projects to be implemented in the public sector are 300
MW Siddhirganj peaking plant, 360 MW Haripur, 150 MW Sirajganj, 150 MW
Khulna, 150 MW Bhola, 150 MW Sylhet and the 210 MW Khulna power plants.

The private sector plants are 450 MW Bibiyana and 450MW Sirajganj
power plants.

Among the projects, loan agreements were signed by the previous
governments for 300 MW Siddhirganj, 150 MW Sirajganj, 150 MW Khulna
and 150 MW Bhola power plants.

As per the agreements, the World Bank is supposed to finance the 300
MW Siddhirganj plant while Japanese JBIC will finance the 360 MW
Haripur project, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 150 MW Sirajganj
project and 150 MW Khulna project.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will finance the 150 MW Bhola project.

The government is supposed to finance from its own funds the 150 MW
Sylhet and 150 MW Chandpur projects. The 210 MW Khulna project will be
implemented under supplier's credit.

Power Development Board (PDB), according to the sources, is preparing
a paper on the position of the projects to place it before the
government's highest policymaking body.

They said the new government might give priority to implement these
projects as funding has been confirmed by the donor agencies for such
projects. They also said gas supply to the projects has also been
confirmed by Petrobangla.

A top official at Petrobangla, however, said they are unlikely to be
able to supply gas to the projects before 2013. PDB officials said
these projects may not require gas before 2013 as it would take at
least 2-3 years to install the plants.