PM launches eight power plants, says AL sincere about development

The Awami League has proved its capacity for development, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said after launching eight power plants on Wednesday.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 March 2017, 11:49 AM
Updated : 1 March 2017, 01:09 PM

She used a video link from Ganabhaban to inaugurate eight power plants with a combined capacity to produce 1,375 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

She also launched  power connections to cover the whole of ten Upazilas.

"The Awami League has successfully proved how sincere it is about ensuring the nation's development," she said.

The new plants will provide 10 Upazilas (sub-districts) with total requirement of electricity, said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid earlier said the eight plants have been linked to the national grid.

All of Bandarban's Thanchi Upazila has come under power facility for the very first time after Wednesday's launch.

Nasrul said three of these power plants are state-run while the rest were privately-managed.

The 330 MW power plant at Shahjibazar and 450 MW power plant in Ashuganj are newly set up. The capacity of the Khulna-based power plant has been raised to 225 MW from 150 MW.

The privately-owned plants will produce 55 MW in Manikganj, 55 MW in Nawabganj, 55 MW in Narayanganj, 95 MW in Jamalpur and 110 MW in Barisal.

They are adding 1,225 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, said the state minister.

The government brought six Upazilas under full coverage in August last year. Ten were added on Wednesday.

A total 101 Upazilas of the country will be brought under the facility by June, said State Minister Nasrul.

Government hopes all Upazilas of the country will get 100 percent electricity by 2018, he added.

During the programme, Hasina also inaugurated two sub-centres - 400 KV supply line at Bibiana-Kaliakoir and 400/230/132 KV grid at Kaliakoir.

Bangladesh has already reached the target of producing 15,000 megawatts of electricity.

By 2030, that will be raised to 40,000 MW, said Nasrul Hamid.