World Bank provides $185m for 310 MW of renewable capacity in Bangladesh

8 March 2019 | Syful Islam | PV Magazine  
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Renewable energy projects are ready to attract private investors in Bangladesh. Source: PV Magazine
Multilateral lender hopes to leverage $212 million more from the private sector as falling solar development costs make renewables more attractive. A solar plant with a 50 MW capacity in Feni will be one of the first to benefit from the new funds. 
The World Bank has approved $185 million for 310 MW of renewable energy capacity in Bangladesh. 
The international development lender’s Scaling-up Renewable Energy Project aims to mobilize $212 million in private sector funding to establish a Renewable Energy Financing Facility to provide credit to developers of rooftop and large-scale PV. 
The World Bank cash will mainly be channeled through Bangladesh’s Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), which has so far invested $2 billion in renewable energy and which aims to use the new funds to drive more than 300 MW of PV capacity by 2022 from rooftops alone. 
A senior official at IDCOL told pv magazine, with the production cost of electricity from renewable energy falling significantly and at par with fossil fuels, many businesses are keen to establish renewable energy power plants. 
Leveraging private investment 
The official added, any entrepreneur who wants to draw upon Scaling-up Renewable Energy Project cash will have to provide 20-30% of project costs themselves. 
With falling component prices making renewable projects more attractive to investors, it is anticipated commercial banks and other private backers will come forward, said the IDCOL official, adding: “This way … IDCOL will mobilize the stated $212 million for renewable power.” 
One of the first projects to be financed by the World Bank cash will be a 50 MW plant in the Feni district of Bangladesh. 
The World Bank credit comes from the lender’s International Development Association, which provides concessional financing, has a 30-year term that includes a five-year grace period, and an interest rate of 1.25% plus a service charge of 0.75%. 

Govt to Take Project to Supply Bhola’s Electricity to National Grid

22 November 2018 | Energy and Power 
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The government plans to undertake a project to supply electricity produced in non-grid Bhola Island to the national grid, said official concerned. 
To this end, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) has already requested the Power Division for permission to set up a 230kv gridline from Bhola to Kachua. 
The gridline will help evacuate electricity from power plants at Bhola, including the proposed 600MW combined cycle dual-fuel power plant, to the national grid. 
Earlier, the PGCB managing director Masum-Al-Beruni proposed to set up the plant under bidder finance or public private partnership. 
A series of power giants from India and China have expressed their interests in implementing a number of national gridline projects in Bangladesh under public-private partnership (PPP) model, official confirmed. 
At least six Chinese companies and series of Indian companies including Adani Transmission Ltd have already shown their interest in implementing transmission projects in Bangladesh. 

IDCOL Arrange $135m For 3 Liquid Fuel Power Plant

4 December 2017 | Energy Bangla 
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Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), a government owned development financial institution involved in private sector energy and infrastructure financing in Bangladesh, has recently signed a term sheet with Confidence Group to raise USD 135 million term loan facility for establishment of three HFO fired IPP power plants in Bogra, Rangpur, and Chittagong having combined capacity of 280 MW. 
Confidence Power Bogra Limited, Confidence Power Rangpur Limited, and Zodiac Power Chittagong Limited will establish the said power plants at an estimated cost of USD 200 million with brand new European engines from MAN and Rolls-Royce. All power projects are expected to go into commercial operation by 2019. 
The program was graced by Mr. Mahmood Malik, Executive Director & CEO of IDCOL and Mr. RezaulKarim, Chairman of Confidence Group. Imran Karim, Group Managing Director of Confidence Group, Mr. Salman Karim, Group CEO of Confidence Group, Mr. Nazmul Haque, Director (Investment & Advisory), and Mr. Khalid Islam, Managing Director of all the three companies were also present at the program along with relevant team members. 
IDCOL, the largest energy and infrastructure financier of the country,has already financed power projects supplying more than 1,500 MW to the national grid. IDCOL looks forward to investing additional USD 1 billion by 2021 for development of priority infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

IDCOL Financed Fossil Fuel Power Plants in Bangladesh

IDCOL is the largest local financier in the power sector of Bangladesh and has financed BDT 1.5 billion for installation of more than 1500 MW of power plants. Following are the major projects financed/approved by IDCOL:
1. BEDL Rental Power Plant: Sylhet: USD 4 million
2. Bhola Integrated Power Plant (Bhola IPP): Bhola: USD 22.3 million (till 2018)
3. Confidence Chittagong Power Plant (ECPVCL): Chittagong: USD 30 million
4. Lakdhanavi Bangla Dual Fuel Power Plant: Comilla: USD 15 million
5. Malancha Captive Power Plant: Savar, Dhaka: BDT 200 million
6. Powertek Meghnaghat Power Plant: Naryanganj: USD 80 million
7. Quantum HFO Based Power Plants: Jessore and Kushtia: BDT 1000 million
8. Regent Power Plant: Narsingdi: USD 30 million 
9. Shah Cement Captive Power Plant: Munshiganj: BDT 120 million   
10. Summit Ashulia Power Plant I: Dhaka: BDT 153 million
11. Summit Meghnaghat Power Plant II: Naryanganj: USD 30 million
12. Summit Purbanchol and Uttaranchol Gas Based Power Plants: BDT 600 million
  • Summit Jangalia Power Plant, Comilla
  • Summit Maona Power Plant, Gazipur
  • Summit Rupganj Power Plant, Narayanganj 
  • Summit Ullapara Power Plant, Sirajganj
13. Venture Gas Based Rental Power Plant: Bhola: BDT 200 million
Detail Link: IDCOL Power Sector Investments

Power coverage reaches 93pc people in Bangladesh: Says World Bank

26 May 2019 | The Daily Star 
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Bangladesh has made significant progress in access to electricity as its electrification coverage reached 93 percent, thanks to the stronger political commitment of the Awami League government. 

The World Bank in its just-published Energy Progress Report 2019 mentioned that among the countries with the largest population without access to electricity, Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar and Sudan have made the most progress. 

It said global electrification rate reached 89 percent; the number of people without electricity access dropped to around 840 million, compared to 1 billion in 2016 and 1.2 billion in 2010. 

But the AL government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, achieved tremendous success in the power and energy sector because of its realistic roadmap with an aim to reach power to every household by 2021. 

Talking to BSS, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said access to quality and reliable electricity is no more a dream as the country’s 93 percent people are now getting power, which was only 47 percent before 2009. 

According to power cell data, the power generation capacity of Bangladesh now stands at 21,419 MW, with power connections increasing to 3.32 crore while the number of power plants reached to 130.  

TRACKING SDG7 
The Energy Progress Report 2019 showed that despite the progress, reaching the remaining unserved people, including those connected to frail and overburdened urban grids, as well as displaced people, and hard-to-reach locations, will be challenging. An estimated 650 million people will be left without electricity access in 2030. 

The report tracks global, regional and country progress on the three targets of Sustainable Development Goal-7: access to energy and clean cooking, renewable energy and energy efficiency. It identifies priorities for action and best practices that have proven successful in helping policymakers and development partners understand what is needed to overcome challenges. 

Among the least electrified countries, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau and Central African Republic have been electrified at around 3 percentage points each year since 2010. Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Nepal are currently among the fastest electrifying countries. 

Maintaining and extending the pace of progress in all regions and sectors will require stronger political commitment, long-term energy planning, increased private financing and adequate policy and fiscal incentives to spur faster deployment of new technologies, the report underscores.

Link: Power coverage reaches 93pc people in Bangladesh: Says World Bank

Bangladesh to invest in Bhutan’s hydropower

18 May 2016 | Kuense 
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Energy: A trilateral cooperation among Bhutan, Bangladesh and India that will enable Bangladesh to invest in the Bhutanese power sector to re-import the electricity could soon be a reality. 

A draft memorandum of understanding on the trilateral collaboration is being circulated among the three friendly countries. 

Bangladesh’s foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, who was on a visit to the country last week, told Kuensel that his country will invest in the 1,125MW Dorjilung hydropower project in Lhuentse. He said India has agreed to Bangladesh’s proposal to invest in the project and provide transit for transmission of electricity from Bhutan. 

He had held talks with Indian officials on the project days before coming to Bhutan, in Dhaka. 

The trilateral cooperation will provide an opportunity for both the countries to diversify their energy markets. Bhutan is dependent on the Indian market for sale of its surplus power, as does Bangladesh for electricity import. 

Economic affairs minister Lekey Dorji said the detailed project report (DPR) is almost complete. Lyonpo said the project is estimated to cost about Nu 83 billion (B) at the November 2015 price. 

The Sheikh Hasina government of Bangladesh recently approved USD 1B for the project. The foreign minister said the money will be equity investment in the project, and Bangladesh will get a proportionate share of the production from the project. 

“We have been dreaming of importing power from Bhutan for a long time,” Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said. The dream, he said, will be an “absolute reality very soon … I have no doubt about it.” 

The fact that demand for power in both Bangladesh and India will keep increasing, he said presents a big economic opportunity for Bhutan. Bangladesh currently buys 500MW from India. 

Implementation of this project will not only uplift the relation between Bhutan and Bangladesh but also the trilateral relation. “We are poised to take a big leap in the trilateral cooperation,” the foreign minister said. 

In addition to Bangladesh’s share of production from the project, the foreign minister said his country is keen on importing either from the same project or other projects. That will be subject to negotiation among the three countries. 

Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh is poised to become a middle-income country by 2018 and that his country needs to import power from Bhutan to meet the growing energy demand. 

Bangladesh recently announced 100 special economic zones for industrializsation. Within Bangladesh, power plants to generate 1000MW have been planned. 

The dam will be located about seven kilometres downstream of Autsho at a place called Rewan. It will be about 135m high from the deepest foundation. 

A head-race tunnel of 11m diameter will carry the water to the powerhouse at the confluence of the Kurichhu and Shongarchhu. 

In 2014, member states of SAARC signed a framework agreement for energy cooperation with the declared objective of creating a regional energy market and enhancement of cross-border electricity trade.

Local workers asked to leave plant site

The Daily Star | 23 June 2019 
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The authorities of Payra power plant have directed the Bangladeshi workers to leave the construction site and not return until further notice. 

The directive came four days after a clash broke out between the Bangladeshi and the Chinese workers at the power plant. 

According to Moni Shah Jico, junior assistant manager at Payra power plant, only Chinese workers would stay in the power plant area to repair their quarters and take other preparations to resume the construction work. 

During that time, Bangladeshi workers will not stay in the construction area, he added. 

Meanwhile, most of the Bangladeshi workers left their quarters before the direc-tion came. According to sources, there are 6,000 Bangladeshi workers in the site while only 1,500 of them were staying in their quarters yesterday. 

A violent clash erupted between the Bangladeshi and the Chinese workers as Swabindra Das, 32, a Bangladeshi worker, lost his life after falling from a 70-feet tall tower on Wednesday. 

The agitating Bangladeshi workers attacked the Chinese workers and vandalised the construction site of the power plant as rumors spread that Chinese workers mistakenly killed Swabindra and were trying to hide his body. 

During the clash, seven workers, including five Chinese, were seriously injured. 

Of the five Chinese workers, Zang Jon Seng, 26, an electrician at the power plant, died at Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Thursday. 

Wang Le Jhing, security director of Payra power plant, filed two cases with Patua-khali’s Kalapara Police Station on Thursday night accusing 500 to 600 unidentified people in each. 

The cases were filed over the death of Zang Jon Seng and vandalism in the construction site of Payra power plant. 

The government deployed nearly 600 law enforcers in the plant area after the incident. 

Meanwhile, police arrested 16 people in connection with the cases. Four of them were sent to jail on Friday after police placed them before court. 

A total of 6,000 Bangladeshi and 2,700 Chinese employees work in the construction site of 1320-megawatt Payra Power Plant. 

With help of the Chinese Exim Bank, that Payra power plant is being built at a cost of $1.6 billion in Patuakhali district’s Kalapara upazila.
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