Bangladesh Power Equipment Manufacturing Company Limited (BPEMC) has officially started smart prepayment meter production at its Tongi factory in Gazipur district.
A total of 13 lakh prepayment meters with single and three phase will be produced in one shift from the factory annually. However, if the work is done in three shifts, it is possible to produce 39 lakh meters per year.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid inaugurated the factory as chief guest virtually on Saturday morning. However it started producing the meter from December 10 in the factory.
State-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and Chinese privately run Shenzhen Star Instrument Co., Ltd formed the new company titled ‘Bangladesh Power Equipment Manufacturing Company Limited’ (BPEMC). RPCL has a 51 percent stake in the company, with the Chinese holding a 49 percent share.
Nasrul Hamid, in the inauguration program, said that “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approval BPEMC in the cabinet meeting. The company will not only produce smart meter, they also produce others electrical equipment. We have already set up two state-run assembly factories. We never compromise with product quality.”
The state minister said the competitive price should be fixed while maintaining the quality of the prepared meters. In addition to producing the meter, it is also necessary to look at the production of other electrical gadgets and instruments. Special care should be taken to ensure that customers get after-sales service as per the demand.
He also said that automation in the power sector needs to be accelerated to ensure smooth customer service. Power Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman said, "The prepaid meter production has started as a continuation of the dynamic activities we are carrying out in the power sector. This will reduce the power system loss. “
Engineer MdBelayet Hossain, Chairmen of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) said, ‘It will enhance our technical knowledge. From now on, I think our distribution companies will get readily available meters. '
AbdusSabur, Managing Director of RPCL, said ‘We started with the meter. But many more types of components are needed to distribute electricity. We want to start production of these components in phases. '
Major General Moin Uddin (Retd) chairmen of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and BPEMC presided over the virtual ceremony. Among others Shenzhen Star General Manager Felix Lao also spoke in the ceremony.
There are around 4 crore electric consumers in Bangladesh. It has set a target to install 66 lakh 56 thousand prepaid / smart meters by 2021. However some 37 lakh meters have already been installed up to November 2020.
Earlier Salim Bhuiyan, Executive Director (Engineering) of RPCL and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BPEMC, told The Bangladesh Post, “It will meet the high demand for prepayment meters and thus save foreign currency. We have already got a requirement for 2 lakh meters of REB. They want to purchase it by June.”
“Initially, we will assemble smart prepayment meters only. We have also plans to produce other electrical equipment in phases. To this end, a space of 19000 square feet has been hired in SenaKalyan Commercial Complex of Tongi. Hopefully, the factory will be shifted to its own building in Kadda of Gazipur within the next 3 years,” he continued.
Salim Bhuiyan also said, “There are plans to export the meter abroad after fulfilling the country’s demand in the future. The prices of our products will also be reasonable and of the best quality. Besides, it will create employment opportunities.”
RPCL officials said there are two production lines with a testing lab for quality tests after producing the meters. A medical center has been established there to provide round-the-clock medical services to the factory employees and workers. There is also a clean canteen and other facilities for the staff.