POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Mar 21, 2022: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the 1,320 MW Piyra Thermal Power Plant. She inaugurated the country’s largest power plant at 11:54 am on Monday (March 21) in Kalapara, Patuakhali.
At the end of the inaugural function, the Prime Minister made an official announcement of 100% electrification in the country. State Minister and Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Minerals, Chinese Ambassador, Managing Director of BCPCL, senior government officials and Central Awami League leaders were present at the gathering.
In 2014, an agreement was signed between Bangladesh Northwest Power Company and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) to build a total of 1,320 MW power plant from two units.
On 14 October 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of this coal-fired power plant at Dhankhali in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district.
The construction of two units of Payra Thermal Power Station was completed a few days ago.
The first unit came into production on May 15, 2020. The construction of the second unit was also completed in December of the same year.
But due to low capacity of Gopalganj substation and transmission line from Gopalganj to Aminbazar of Dhaka has not been completed, 60 MW power of the second unit has not been connected to the national grid yet.
Their work is still going on. The second unit will be connected to the national grid by next December.
Piyra Thermal Power Plant Project Director Shah Golam Mawla said the Piyra 1,320 MW coal-fired thermal power plant would be the biggest contributor to uninterrupted power supply in the south.
The cost of the coal-fired power plant, built on 1,000 acres of land, was estimated at ৪ 2.45 billion. However, the whole money was not spent. It has saved about 100 million dollars. The eco-friendly power plant will require 13,000 tons of coal per day. Now the construction of the second phase is going on.
When the construction work is completed by December 2024, the project will generate a total of 2,640 MW of electricity.
