The electricity production at Unit-2 of the Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant was halted for two months to carry out essential maintenance work. Once maintenance is completed, the unit is expected to resume operations at full capacity.
After the maintenance work is completed at unit-2, the work in unit-1 will begin.
Authorities at the plant explained that they specifically chose this period for maintenance since electricity demand is generally lower in winter. The decision, approved by the Ministry, was planned to avoid disruptions to the national electricity supply, and plant officials assured that there will be no electricity shortage as a result of this maintenance.
The Payra plant, located in the southern region of Bangladesh, is the country's first coal-based thermal power station with a capacity of 1320 MW. It began full-scale commercial production in 2020. To meet the nation’s power requirements and maintain stable electricity supply, both units of the power plant have been in continuous operation, even during times of high demand. However, as with any large-scale industrial machinery, the plant’s systems and equipment require periodic maintenance and minor repairs to remain in optimal working condition. Plant officials emphasized that prolonged, uninterrupted operation can wear down machinery over time, which is why regular maintenance is critical to sustaining efficiency and preventing larger technical issues in the future.
Due to the uninterrupted operation of both units to meet demand over the past several years, major maintenance for the units has become essential at this stage. Given the decrease in electricity demand during the winter season, the authorities at Payra power plant, with approval from the Ministry, decided to proceed with maintenance for Unit-2 and the maintenance work has already begun on Tuesday. This comprehensive maintenance process is expected to take at least two months to complete. During this period, Unit-1 will continue operating and is currently supplying 622 MW of power to the national grid to support ongoing electricity needs. Officials noted that similar maintenance was carried out for Unit-1 in January earlier this year to ensure its sustained efficiency.
Zobayer Ahmed, the Chief Engineer at Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant, explained the situation:
He said, we anticipate completing all necessary maintenance activities within the next two months, after which the unit that is currently offline will return to production. Although one unit of our power plant is temporarily shut down, Bangladesh has five additional coal-fired thermal power plants, as well as gas-powered and other types of power plants, which should collectively meet the demand. Given that it’s winter, electricity demand has naturally decreased, which allows us to carry out this essential maintenance with minimal impact on the national grid.
Engineer Shah Abdul Mowla, Project Manager of the Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant, further explained, due to urgent primary repair needs, the authorities had to make this decision with the Ministry’s approval. With electricity demand naturally lower in winter, this time was strategically selected to minimize the impact on power supply. If a shortfall does occur, we have the capacity to meet it through other power plants. Additionally, our maintenance activities fall under the terms of our agreement with China, meaning no additional costs will be incurred.
The Payra power plant originated from a 2014 agreement between Bangladesh’s North-West Power Generation Company and the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) for a joint venture, which led to the formation of Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited. On October 14, 2016, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant in Dhankhali, Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali. The power plant began its operations in 2020. Following the contract agreement between Bangladesh and China, the project, which cost approximately BDT 12,284 crore, received 80% of its financing from China’s Exim Bank and China Development Bank, highlighting the strong cooperation between the two nations in advancing Bangladesh’s energy infrastructure.
