Bangladesh now has 100 power stations

The number of power stations has risen to 100 in Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened three more stations in Ashuganj with a combined capacity of 475MW.

Hasina said it was a “big achievement”.

“We’re elated to have scored a century today… in setting up power plants,” she said on Thursday after inaugurating seven projects via video conference.

Power Secretary Monowar Islam said production had doubled since the Awami League returned to power in 2009.

At present, the combined production capacity is over 14,000MW.

Hasina said her government had a target of producing 20,000MW.

“We’ll do it, god willing, and will produce more in future,” she said.

The prime minister said her government had initially set up smaller power plants in 2009 to ease power crisis and was taking up ‘mega projects’ now.

“It’ll take time,” she said, adding that her government was working to overcome power problems.

Of the three new gas-fired plants, ‘Ashuganj 225MW Combined Cycle’ has cost $256 million.

It currently feeds 150MW to the national grid from simple cycle and will add another 75MW from a combined cycle in November.

The ‘United Ashuganj 200-MW Modular Power Plant’ has been built on a public-private-partnership model at a cost of about $170 million.

The United Enterprise owns 71 percent share and Ashuganj Power Company the rest.

The Midland Power Company has constructed the ‘Ashuganj Midland 51-MW Power Plant’.

Hasina directed officials to ensure the ongoing projects were finished within the given timeframe.

“That way, we’ll be able to develop the country faster,” she added.