Power Sector of Bangladesh

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

National

Eight power plants having 1,283MW capacity okayed
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

The cabinet committee on public purchase on Sunday approved proposals to award contracts for setting up eight power plants having total capacity of 1,283MW. This is the first time in the country that a cabinet body in a single sitting approved so many power projects with huge capacity.

The finance minister, AMA Muhith, presided over the cabinet committee meeting that took just about an hour to give nod to the projects.

Of the approved projects, three are medium and large scale base-load independent power producer plants while the remaining five are quick rental power plants.

With the latest approval of the five QRPP projects, the total capacity of such projects rose to 1,873MW after the present Awami League government took office.

The tariffs of the QRPPs are excessively high compared with the tariff of IPP and state-owned power plants.

All the IPP and QRPP units will be set up by private sponsors and the government will purchase electricity from the projects.

The IPP projects, which the private sponsors will implement on build-own-operate basis, are 341MW Bibiyana-2 combined cycle plant, 335MW Meghnaghat-2 (dual-fuel) combined cycle plant and the 216.80MW Bhola combined cycle plant.

Local power giant Summit Group under a joint venture with GE of the USA won the contracts of the Bibiyana-2 and Meghnaghat-2 projects while the Malaysian Ranhill Berhad won the Bhola project.

The state-owned Power Development Board will purchase electricity from the IPP projects for next 22 years.

The levelised tariff of Bibiyana-2 project was fixed at 3.39 US cents (Tk 2.37 equivalent) per kilowatt hour (per unit) while the tariff of Meghnaghat-2 was fixed at 6.8472 US cents (Tk 4.79) per kilowatt hour.

The tariff of Bhola plant was fixed at 3.4301 US cents (Tk 2.40 equivalent).

The sponsors of Bibiyana-2 and Meghnaghat-2 projects will have to set up their plants within next 36 months after signing of the contracts while the sponsor of Bhola project has to set up the plant within 32 months.

The QRPP projects are 50MW plant at Meghnaghat, 90MW plant at Chandpur or Barisal, 99MW plant at Ghorasal, 48MW plant at Ashuganj and another 53MW plant at the same place.

The government has selected the private sponsors for these QRPP projects without any tender process.

Among the selected sponsors, APR Energy will set up 50 MW plant at Meghnaghat (tariff Tk 7.70 per unit), Cambridge Energy will set up 90MW plant at Chandpur or Barisal (tariff Tk 7.65 per unit), Wintara INC will install 99MW plant at Ghorasal (tariff Tk 4.49 per unit), EQ Capital Energy will set up 48MW plant at Ashuganj (tariff Tk 4.50 per unit) and the United Enterprise will set up 53MW plant at Ashuganj (tariff Tk 4.45 per unit).

All these companies will have to set up their respective plant from 90 days to 120 days on the basis of their contracts with the government.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Boosting of energy supply is too important

Abdul Mannan

Boosting of energy supply is too important

THE good supply of energy for now and assurances of similar future supply appear to have become the focal point of demand and aspirations in Bangladesh. The country has been growing economically at about 5.5 per cent on average in the present decade. But considering the vast remaining number of the poor in the population and the country's actual economic possibilities, there is need for a higher rate of economic growth when the potentials to achieve the levels of such higher growth are there.

The way the Bangladesh economy stands today or considering the net of its able and willing entrepreneurial people, a much higher growth rate is not a dream but a very much attainable reality. Only, it is necessary to meet the vital requirement of augmenting energy supply to spur on this growth.

Experts have the opinion that a growth rate of eight per cent and even higher is easily obtainable but it currently remains on hold from the poor energy supply situation. The manufacturing sector in Bangladesh was growing well above double digits for some time. But in recent years that growth has tapered off or seems to be falling as a consequence of the severe energy crunch. Thus, it is most unfortunate that when conditions are seen as favourable for a take-off of the Bangladesh economy in all other respects such as having entrepreneurs with the requisite flair and initiatives, a growingly efficient and easily trainable workforce to work at competitive wages, adequate finances from institutional sources, etc., the same cannot be favourably utilised as there are not enough energies to drive productive ventures fully. Thus, addressing of this energy-starved conditions calls for the highest focused attention on the part of the government.

The present government has explained that it carries the accumulated burden of wasted time in the energy sector for nearly seven years, before it assumed power. First, it cites the ineffectual period under the immediate past elected government when timely works were not done to increase power generation capacities and to explore for more gas. The period of two years under the caretaker government is described as similarly barren. But these past lapses certainly do no longer justify the government's failings as it will soon be completing its two years in office.

It has been in power knowing it well at the very outset of its current tenure how critically important it is to go for total allout actions to increase energy supplies. But this period also appears to have not been properly used. Indecisiveness, lack of urgent planning and actions have been missing during this period. The increases in power generation capacities and addition of gas to the grid in this period have been meager to say the least compared to the demand. On their part, the people may be prepared to will bear out this year and keep faith in the latest promises being made that notable improvements in energy supply will occur in 2011. But what will happen if no tangible progress is seen after that?

This should make it all the more clear why all the apparatuses and means available to the government -- to ensure keeping of this promise from its highest level -- must be mobilised and set to work very efficiently and purposefully -- immediately -- to fulfill the pledge that has made afresh. The well-being of the country's economy absolutely demands this positive outcome. And not only providing a glimmer of hope for the next year, all activities in the energy sector by that time should be concretised, made operational and streamlined to assure that all medium-term plans to boost energy supplies would be well on the way of implementation.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Ranks Power to supply Facitroom with 12,000 solar home systems

Business
Business Desk

Ranks Power & Renewable Energy Ltd, a concern of Rangs Group, has recently signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply of 12,000 solar home systems to Facitroom Bangladesh Ltd, an NGO support services organisation.

Ranks Power managing director Romo Rouf Chowdhury and Facitroom Bangladesh general manager (sales, marketing and purchase) RK Das signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides, said a news release.

As per the MoU, Ranks Power has agreed to supply premier quality solar home systems including solar panels, solar batteries, LED bulbs and other solar-powered appliances, relevant accessories as well as provide the necessary technical support and training to Facitroom and its team who will in turn through a multi-level marketing programme distribute the materials to their partner NGOs and marketing agents.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

50 mw power plant for Nilphamari planned
Our Correspondent

50 mw power plant for Nilphamari planned

NILPHAMARI, Nov 22: One 50 megawatt (mw) coal fired power plant will be build in Uttara EPZ under Nilphamari district. Abu Talha, MP and Managing Director of Pure Power Co. Ltd revealed this in a view exchange meeting in the Circuit House Nilphamari recently.

The meeting was attended by DC Nilphamari Zillur Rahman, Municipality Mayor Dewan Kamal Ahamed, Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Abdul Wahed Sarker, noted journalist Salem Suleri, elites of the town, local journalist and others.

One American company AG ENOC will build the power plant at a cost of Tk 5.5 billion supervised by Pure Power Company.

The proposed plant would provide electricity within the year 2011 to be generated by imported coal. Talking to newsmen Md. Abu Talha, MP, said Uttara EPZ would consume 15 mw electricity while the rest electricity would be sold either to PDB or REB.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Bangladesh to Import 1000 MW Power from Nepal

Tuesday, 11.23.2010, 09:24pm (GMT)

Dhaka: Bangladesh wants to import one thousand megawatts of power from a hydroelectric plant in Nepal.

A seven-member delegation, led by Prime Minister’s Finance Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman now on a visit to Nepal and Bhutan, placed the proposal.

The delegation went to Nepal and Bhutan to deal with various issues, including transit and import of electricity.

The supply of the power will start within next two-three years.

Chief engineer Masum Al-Beruni of Power Development Board (PDB), also a delegation member, told newsmen,“A proposal has been placed to import one thousand MW power from a hydroelectricity plant in Nepal”.Beruni also said that they had taken a grand initiative to generate 83,000 MW hydro-power from Saptakoshi flow in Nepal.

“It will take 20 years to complete the project, but a target has been fixed to generate 3,500 MW power in next two or three years at the initial stage of the project”, said.

 

[akash57]

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[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

2000mw addl electricity by next year: Muhith
Govt offers $1b stimulus package to SMEs

2000mw addl electricity by next year: Muhith
FE Report

2000mw addl electricity by next year: Muhith

The government will offer a stimulus package of $1.0 billion (Tk 100 crore) for the small and medium entrepreneurs to diversify and explore new markets around the globe.

"The government is providing little support for market diversification and in this regard it will give a package worth $1.0 billion for the small and medium entrepreneurs," Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Thursday.

These entrepreneurs will be kept put of the bonded warehouse facility and they will enjoy all the facilities entitled to them until June 30 next year, the minister added.

Mr Muhith was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 21st Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition Batexpo-2010 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

Quoting the electricity crisis, the minister said Bangladesh will get 2000MW power more by 2011.

The three-day annual apparel export fair has been organized by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)-the apex trade body that accounts for the largest share of export-earning for the country.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Commerce Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and Textile and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, were present at the inaugural ceremony.

Earlier, BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy drew the government's attention to the cent per cent disbursement of the declared stimulus package for smooth implementation of the recently declared wage for the workers.

"The government should implement its announced package as early as possible as it becomes a big challenge for 60-65 per cent small and medium entrepreneurs to implement the new wage structure," Mr Murshedy said.

The garment industry leaders are expecting better and more positive responses from foreign buyers from this year's display.

Bangladesh exported knitwear worth $ 2.88 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year, 29.63 per cent higher than the export goal and 37.97 percent higher than the corresponding period of last fiscal year.

Woven garment worth $ 2.34 billion were exported in this period, 13.70 per cent higher than the target and 39.45 per cent higher than last year's export during this period.

There are 137 stalls from 87 companies including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Brazil in the fair.

BSS adds: Muhith said the country did not have market diversity, but now it has attained diversity in export market with the offering of small incentives to garment entrepreneurs. "More has to be done for them in this regard," he opined.

Although apparel sector does not pay much to the national exchequer, it created a large number of jobs and made people self- reliant, he said, adding the government provides support for it for this reason.

The country could overcome global recession successfully, he said mentioning that during last financial year (2009-10), export rose by 4 pc. "The growth rate might be low, but it maintained growth," he said.

Appreciating BGMEA for its social responsibility, he said an industry after making growth play many roles, and BGMEA also did it.

"When food prices went up, I wanted BGMEA to supply rice to garment workers at a government subsidized price, and I believe the association would do it," he said.

He said the demand of the industry for power generators and dormitory is under government's consideration. Besides, a decision for withdrawal of 15 percent VAT on house rent of RMG factories would be taken next year.

Abdul Latif Siddiqui said the government of Sheikh Hasina made necessary arrangements for captive power generators and offered stimulus packages for RMG owners.

He urged the entrepreneurs for remaining alert so that their units do not become sick, as it would be a burden on the economy. Labourers are the main force, he said urging the entrepreneurs for maintaining a sound relation with them.

Syed Ashraful Islam said through this exposition, trade in the RMG sector would be expanded.

Commerce Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan also spoke at the function.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina now abroad was supposed to inaugurate the gala show. Finance Minister AMA inaugurated the BATEXPO 2010 on her behalf.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan offered the garment exporters to use the Mongla port at concessional rate. "If you use Mongla port, we will reduce the port charges for you," he said.

He assured that special ferry service would be arranged for the garment cargoes to reach them speedily to the Mongla port.

"At present you need 15 hours to send containers from Dhaka to Chittagong through rail. Let me assure you that it will take only eight hours to send your containers from Dhaka to Mongla port," he said.

Regarding the charges at Chittagong port the Minister indicated to a good news by next month.

 

[eastwatch]

Nepal, Bhutan offer 1000MW power each
NEA to expand power cut time
Nepal and Bhutan have pledged to export 1000 megawatt (MW) hydroelectricity each to Bangladesh, reports BSS.

Prime Minister's Finance Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, who led seven-member delegation to Nepal and Bhutan from November 21 to 25, on his return home Friday, told the news agency that Nepal would give 1,000 MW electricity from its Saptokoshi project while Bhutan another 1,000 MW from its Sangkosh project.

However, the Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, in a report from Kathmandu said Saturday Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is going to impose weekly 38.5 hours of load-shedding effective from today (Sunday).

The NEA decided to increase the load-shedding hours following dysfunction of units kept at the Mid-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project.

Presently, the nation is witnessing power cut for 29 hours in a week.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh delegation during its just-concluded visit to Nepal and Bhutan made much progress in discussions on the issues of transit, transshipment, water supply and expansion of bilateral trade with those two countries.

As all these things would require using the Indian territory, the whole issue would be discussed during Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh early next year.

During discussions, both Nepal and Bhutan observed that the Bangladesh-India joint communique, signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Delhi visit, had offered increased opportunities to the countries in the region to expand their cooperation.

During official talks in Nepal, the issues of water resource development and river management, generation and distribution of electricity at Shaptakoshi reservoir with partnership, communications, transit and transshipment, the use of Mongla and Chittagong seaports, expansion of trade and taking the joint initiatives in global arena, particularly on issues of climate change, were discussed.

The Bangladesh delegation, during its visit to Bhutan from November 23 to 24, conveyed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's greetings to the King and Prime Minister of that country.

Dr Mashiur Rahman said Bhutan has fixed a target of generating 10,000 megawatt electricity from Sangkosh reservoir. Bangladesh has expressed eagerness to import 1,000 MW from there.

He said Bangladesh will set up a land port at Nakugaon in Sherpur district to facilitate the Bhutanese trucks to come 200 metres inside the Bangladesh territory for bilateral trade.

The government has amended Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) system for the purpose. There are scopes for increasing the existing 20 million dollar trade volume between the two countries five-fold.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

PDB rolls out 2 pvt coal power projects
Sharier Khan

PDB rolls out 2 pvt coal power projects
The Power Development Board yesterday held a pre-bid conference with around eight companies over two private coal-fired power projects to be undertaken in Chittagong and Munshiganj.

This is the first PDB venture for such private power projects in which the winning contractors will not only invest for the 150 to 300 megawatt power plants but also arrange coal supply and transport, and acquire project sites with government help.

A top PDB official said the two projects are in addition to a 1,320 MW coal-fired project to be undertaken through a private-public project (PPP) arrangement between the PDB and a successful private bidder, and also another 1,320 MW coal-fired power project to be undertaken through a joint venture between India and Bangladesh.

The Chittagong PPP coal-fired power scheme is however facing uncertainty over its site selection. The PDB had initiated acquisition of 1,200 acres of land in Anwara which is now being resisted by some powerful land grabbers. “The land grabbers are spending money on instigating people to resist this project saying that it will destroy the ecology,” said a PDB official.

At yesterday's meeting, the PDB asked the interested companies to submit their bid qualification documents. The bidders will submit documents next month, and the PDB will evaluate which companies are suitable for the two projects, and ask for their project proposals. Then the projects will be awarded to the bidders offering the best and lowest price for power generation.

“If all goes well, PDB will give the successful bidders three years time from contract signing to complete the projects,” said a top official of PDB.

Meanwhile, the PDB is running behind the schedule of the India-Bangladesh joint venture coal-based power project. It had previously targeted signing within late September a joint venture agreement with Indian Thermal Power Company (NTPC). But as both the parties spent a few extra weeks over the draft, it has not yet been signed.

“We are hoping to sign the joint venture agreement within this month. India has done its part and we have also finished reviewing the draft,” said the official.

The joint venture deal will be the result of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the PDB, and the NTPC on August 31 in Delhi.

The two countries aim at jointly floating a tender and completing the tender process within a year to build the 1,320 MW power plant at an investment of around $ 1.5 billion on an 1,800-acre site close to Chalna. The site is being acquired now.

The draft agreement outlines equal equity between the two countries in setting up the Khulna coal-based power plant, equal representation of both countries in the board of directors and the modalities of financing the project, among other issues. The chairman and the managing directors' position will be periodically rotated between the two nations to maintain equality.

India will play the lead role in arranging the finances.

Coal power is considered one of the cheapest power in the world, although it is also the worst polluter in power generation. This is why Bangladesh intends to build the plant using super-critical technology to keep the level of pollution as low as the current global technology allows.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

225 MW power plant planned in Bhola

Tuesday, 11.30.2010, 01:11pm (GMT)

Dhaka: The Bangladesh government has a plan to set up a gas-based 225-MW power
plant in BHOLA district.
The district administration has already acquired 40 acres of land for setting up
the plant in the Ferry Ghat area under Borhanuddin upazila.
A total of 20-km pipeline was installed in Bhola Municipal area five months ago
to give gas connection. A gas distribution bulb station has been set up at the
Ferry Ghat Road in the town.
According to sources in power ministry, the cabinet meeting on November 14
approved three IPP power stations across the country and the proposal for
purchasing power.
The Bhola 225-mw power station is among the three IPP stations.
A non-government firm namely ‘Runhil’ participated in the dropping of tender for
setting up the 225-mw power plant as the lowest bidder. The firm got the
permission to sell power from the plant.
The government has a plan to purchase power from the firm.
A team conducted survey in Bhola recently to study the feasibility of giving
connection of the produced power from the plant to the national grid.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Embezzlement of Tk 650m from PGCB project unearthed

Embezzlement of Tk 650m from PGCB project unearthed
An incident of misappropriation of about Tk 650 million (65 crore) was unearthed at the state-owned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), reports UNB.

A section of PGCB officials, including some top ones, were allegedly found involved in the embezzlement that had taken place over last several years through tampering of bank cheques.

Both the Power Ministry and the PGCB are investigating the incident of financial corruption.

According to official sources, misappropriation of crores of taka has been taking place in the PGCB since 2005, but these were unearthed first in September this year.

The amount of nearly Tk 650m was allegedly embezzled from a PGCB project - Ishwardi-Baghabari-Sirajganj-Bogra 230 kV Transmission Line Construction.

Some officials withdrew excess money from banks through tampering of a large number of bank cheques in last five years. "While withdrawing the allocated money, they changed the figures mentioned in the cheque and drew excess money," a source said.

Following the detection of the corruption, so far three separate inquiry committees have been formed to probe the corruption and find out the culprits behind the misdeed.

Of the three committees, PGCB board of directors formed a committee while PGCB managing director formed another departmental committee.

Simultaneously, the Power Ministry also formed a committee to investigate into the allegation.

After unearthing the incident, the PGCB initially lodged an FIR with Gulshan Police Station (No-C-29/2010) in September this year.

PGCB Manager Md. Arshad Hossain, named an accused in the FIR, was arrested by the police. Before unearthing the misdeed, Arshad was promoted to the post of manager from deputy manager.

But, interestingly, Arshad was released from jail on bail shortly after his arrest. Now PGCB is unable to trace his whereabouts.

When contacted, Joint Secretary of the Power Ministry Mofazzal Hassain admitted about the case of misappropriation of money.

"We're conducting investigation. We're hopeful of identifying the persons involved in the wrongdoings," he said.

PGCB's acting Managing Director Rafiqul Alam said the departmental investigation identified 8-9 PGCB officials who were found to be involved in the misappropriation of PGCB money.

The officials are Arshad Hossain, Mahbub Ahmed (project director), former project director Ajit Chandra Das, general manager (project) Billal Hossain, Mozammel Hossain (Director P&D), former director Ruhul Amin, General Manager Md. Selim and DGM Belayet Hossain.

Alam said these officials were held responsible for making the financial transactions.

Sources said among the officials, Mozammel Hossain (Director P&D) is now one of the applicants for the top post of the PGCB.

Mozammel Hossain denied his involvement in embezzlement and claimed that his name was not supposed to be in the list of the people identified by the probe body for the incident.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Citizens’ Body Warns Govt Against Contract with ConocoPhilips

http://www.energybangla.com/index.php?mod=article&cat=GasSector&article=2922
Saturday, 12.04.2010, 07:55am (GMT)

Dhaka, Dec 3: The National Committee for the protection of Oil, Gas and Mineral
Resources, Power and Ports has again warned the government against signing any
contract with ConocoPhilips for extraction of oil and gas.
The citizens’ body made the warning at a rally at Muktangan in the city on
Friday afternoon (Dec 3).
Leaders of the committee also raised a seven-point demand including a ban on
adopting open-pit method at Fulbari and Barapukuria coal mines.
Other demands of the committee include complete state ownership of national
resources, banning of export of mineral resources and open mines, cancelling of
Model PSC 2008, compensating victims of mining in
Barapukuria and complete realisation of the Fulbari accord.
Member Secretary Anu Muhammad declared that rallies would be held in all the
divisional headquarters from January 10 to 30 to voice their demands.
Committee convenor Sheikh Shaidullah said the last caretaker government
introduced Model PSC 2008 (Production Sharing Contract) to smuggle out oil and
gas from the country.
Under the system, Bangladesh gets only 20 percent of the extracted gas while the
extraction company gets to sell the rest, he alleged.

ConocoPhilips was chosen through international bidding to extract oil and gas
from block number 10 and 11 in Bay of Bengal.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Rationing energy use, Bangladesh seeks to be investor-friendly

Rationing energy use, Bangladesh seeks to be investor-friendly

Ishita Ayan Dutt / Dhaka December 04, 2010, 0:14 IST

It’s 2 pm here and there is a queue of cars leading up to the gas station. Unsurprising. It’s the last hour during the day when vehicle owners will get to fill gas.

The Bangladesh government has recently banned compressed natural gas stations from selling between 3 pm and 9 pm. An exponential growth of gas stations — apparently at 500 in Dhaka now — and vehicles, due to the policy of the previous government, is now stretching the natural gas resources of the country.

Not just vehicles, in some areas, industrial use is also being rationed, Centre for Policy Dialogue Bangladesh Executive Director, Mustafizur Rahman, said.

Shops and malls must close at 8 pm, two hours before their previous schedule. The government is now carrying out load-shedding in alternate hours, augmenting the use of renewable energy and encouraging efficient use of energy.

According to a Platts report, more than 87 per cent of national electricity output is currently generated from gas, whose production is already dwindling. The capacity of coal-fired plant currently stands at 4,000 Mw, but the peak demand is more than 6,000 Mw.

But for Bangladesh’s energy problem, the $3 billion steel, power and fertiliser proposal from the Tata group, would have probably been on the ground by now.

“We couldn’t give Tatas the 25-year sovereign guarantee. It would have invited conflict, as we don’t have enough gas to support our own industries. Our companies cannot expand organically,” Rahman explained.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has laid out a roadmap to mitigate the shortage. By 2015, more than 9,400 Mw would be added. Over the past one and a half years, around 1,000 Mw has been added.

“We have already signed a number of deals, linking our grids together. We would like to have access to hydro electric power,” Bangladesh Enterprise Institute President Farooq Sobhan said.

The way out: Some of the companies are going for captive power plants. “It’s feasible for industries that are not power intensive. If they get power from grid it will cost 2 taka (per unit), while captive will be around 14 taka,” Rahman said.

But there are long-term plans, where India will play its role. The current commitment on India’s part is to provide 250 Mw, of which 100 Mw is likely to come from Tripura. “Mizoram and Meghalaya can be tapped for small hydro power projects,” said Abdul Matlub Ahmad, chairman of the Nitol-Niloy group, and president of the Indian-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The bigger project is, of course, NTPC’s two plants of 1,320 Mw each.

We have a problem, which is being addressed, Sobhan said. “We know, we have the reserves. All evidence indicates to it. We have high quality coal as well that can meet our requirements over the next 50 years,” he added.

The energy issue, however, is not deterring Bangladesh from showcasing the nation as an investment destination.

“A new image is being presented,” Sobhan said. It was in London and the next could be New York.

The makeover: A nation growing at six per cent, seeking to be investor-friendly, vis-à-vis a country subjected to floods and cyclones.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

BD set to emulate Danish clean energy experience

BD set to emulate Danish clean energy experience

FE Report

Ten world-recognised Danish companies sat with 45 Bangladeshi counterparts in the city on Sunday to find out business opportunities in clean energy and technology with focus on earning for the country credit from global carbon market.

The 'match-making' meeting of the Danish Embassy, the second after April this year on energy and clean technology, has enabled the participating companies of the two countries to avail access to exploring the possibilities for setting up long-term cooperation or joint ventures by combining Danish know-how and investments with local knowledge and manpower skills in a win-win situation.

The issue came up as industries minister Dilip Barua addressed the inaugural session of a meeting in the city as chief guest which was attended by Prof Ijaz Hossain of chemical engineering department of BUET as special guest.

Farooq Sobhan, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute moderated the session, at which Danish embassy's deputy chief Jan Moller Hansen, representative of Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh Frands Sharpe and president of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hamim Rahmatullah also spoke.

The industries minister said energy efficiency, water and waste management are the areas extremely important in the context of the country's big challenge to ensure sufficient energy and clean water for its huge population.

He highlighted Denmark's capacity to generate 25 per cent of its energy from renewable sources and the country's top priority to building energy-efficient houses and factories saying: "as an energy-efficient nation, Denmark can transfer appropriate technology to Bangladesh to improve the country's energy efficiency level."

The industries minister recalled Denmark's significant role in shipbuilding and information technology industries in the country through the B2B programme, and hoped that the latest complementary event would help initiate a new era of long-term cooperation between the participating companies.

"The pattern of global trade and commerce is changing gradually. Technological advancement, global financial downturn, knowledge based hi-tech industrialisation and some other relevant socio- economic factors influenced the global trade and commerce seriously," he said emphasising developing the country's industries in response to the needs of global trade and commerce.

He also invited the local companies to give focus on energy efficient devices, clean forms of energy and green technology solutions through fruitful meetings.

"We want the world not to recognise us as a poor country anymore and want to send the term 'poor' to museum," the minister added.

Prof Ijaz highlighted the country's energy scenario and its challenges and suggested the participants to explore opportunities in the light of earning carbon credit under clean development mechanism (CDM), which is a market mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.

"CDM can be imagined as a match-making between a developed country industry and that of a developing country through technology transfer," he said stressing Bangladesh's potential in the fields of brick, jute, sugar, pulp and paper mills, clinker grinding plants, glass and ceramic factories, cold storage and ice plants.

During the working session, the Danish business delegation discussed the wide range of products being used worldwide for pump companies, green buildings, high level effluent plants, waste water treatment devices for dying plants, multi-tank system for space saving and energy-oriented exploitation of sludge from safety tanks by setting up biogas.

The Danish ambassador stressed correct and quality partnership for the highest success of the meeting, saying Denmark, which has world-class know-how in almost all branches of waste handling, now generates 20 per cent of power consumption through renewable energy.

"If Danish and local companies' cooperation can be established through transferring Danish know-how and expertise, it would be of tremendous value to both countries," he said.

Benny Hagelskjaer, co organiser of Water Training & Consulting (WTC), said the country has efficient clean-tech solutions for water, waste water, waste to energy etc which are helpful in low energy consumption, long life-time expectancy and high quality production.

 

[Donatello]

Bangladesh to Import 1000 MW Power from Nepal

Tuesday, 11.23.2010, 09:24pm (GMT)

Dhaka: Bangladesh wants to import one thousand megawatts of power from a hydroelectric plant in Nepal.

A seven-member delegation, led by Prime Minister’s Finance Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman now on a visit to Nepal and Bhutan, placed the proposal.

The delegation went to Nepal and Bhutan to deal with various issues, including transit and import of electricity.

The supply of the power will start within next two-three years.

Chief engineer Masum Al-Beruni of Power Development Board (PDB), also a delegation member, told newsmen,“A proposal has been placed to import one thousand MW power from a hydroelectricity plant in Nepal”.Beruni also said that they had taken a grand initiative to generate 83,000 MW hydro-power from Saptakoshi flow in Nepal.

“It will take 20 years to complete the project, but a target has been fixed to generate 3,500 MW power in next two or three years at the initial stage of the project”, said.

Seems kinda ridiculous,

My Friends from Nepal say in their capital of Kathmandu they face 12 hours of loadshedding and power outage.

How can they export power to Bangladesh before getting it to themselves?