Tk 25.19bn project for enhancing capacity of Ghorhashal power plant

The top economic policy making body of the government has given the go-ahead to enhance the production capacity of Ghorhashal power plant.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Tk 25.19-billion project at a meeting held on Tuesday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told a press conference that the main objective of the Ghorhashal Third Unit Re-powering was to meet country’s growing demand for electricity.

He said other objectives of the project were increasing operational period and efficiency of the unit.

According to the project paper, the installed capacity of the Ghorhashal third unit was 217 MW but it has now declined to 170 MW.

The government plans to enhance the capacity to 416 MW.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will implement the project by 2017.

Of the project cost, the government will offer Tk 867.8 million, BPDB will spend Tk 4.13 billion from its own fund and the rest will come as project assistance.

The ECNEC also approved six other projects involving Tk 9.93 billion.

They include Tk 1.23-billion revised project for building Board of Investment headquarters in Dhaka,

Tk 2.26-billion has been allocated for road expansion in Chittagong, Tk 288.9-million project for constructing passport personalization complex building, and Tk 353.4 million project for setting up power sub-station at Sayedabad Water Treatment Project (Phase-2).