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100-200 MW solar power plant for Matarbari


Published : 28 Feb 2020 08:52 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 11:08 AM

State-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) is likely to install 100MW-200MW solar power plant at Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar with financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an official said. Currently CPGCBL is implementing a 1200-megawatt coal-fired power plant at Matarbari, for which, some 1,608 acres of land has been acquired for construction.

The project cost is Tk 35,984 crore, of which Tk 7,045 crore is coming from the government exchequer and CPGCBL fund, while the remaining Tk 28,939 crore is coming as project assistance from JICA. Besides, CPGCBL will seek funding for implementing another same capacity power project, an official said.

Recently JICA vice-president visited the project area. During his visit, CPGCBL officials approached JICA vice-president for financial assistance to implement a solar power project including feasibility study in Matarbari Island. The CPGCBL has already submitted land acquisition proposal to Cox’s Bazar DC office for 490 acres of land adjacent to Matarbari 1200MW supercritical coal-fired power plant.

The government plans to generate 10 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It means that at least 2000MW electricity will have to be generated from renewable energy by this year. However, the government is generating only 370MW of electricity from renewable energy right now. The government has also taken various types of initiatives to increase electricity generation from renewable energy.

An official said, ‘The construction work of Matarbari power plant is going on in full swing. “We are now ahead of our targeted work. If everything goes well, we hope the first unit with a 600 MW generation capacity would go into operation by January 2024, and the second unit with the same capacity, by July 2024.’’