Bangladesh Govt to Invite Tenders for 9 Power Plants This Month

Dhaka , Feb 2: Under a mega plan to bring the country to a zero load shedding level from nagging crisis, the Bangladesh government is likely to invite tenders within the current month to set up more than nine power plants having total capacity of about 4,000 MW.

According to official sources, all these power plants will be set up in private sector or under the public private partnership (PPP) as independent power producer (IPP) plants.

The Power Division of the Power and Energy Ministry has almost finalized the procedures to invite the international tenders to set up the plants.

At present, the country’s power generation is about 3,600-MW against a demand of more than 5,000 MW. In the coming summer, the demand will be rising by about 1,000 MW.

After assuming office, the present Awami League-led government had announced a mega plan to generate 7,000 MW power in next five years. Under the plan, it has already invited tenders for 1,800 MW. Of this, contracts have been finalized to set up five rental power plants in private sector, having total 330-MW capacity.

Bids for another 10 plants of total 830-MW capacity, which will be set up in public sector, are in the evaluation stage. Process is under way to invite the qualified bidders to submit their final offers for a large plant - Bibiyana 450 MW combined cycle.

Prior to inviting these tenders for the plants, the government policymakers, including Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, are now busy holding road-shows abroad to attract bidders to participate in the tenders.

They already held a road-show in London in December last while another road-show is now taking place in New York and another will be held in Singapore shortly.