Bangladesh ahead of India or Pakistan in electricity coverage.
The newly inaugurated Payra power plant brings an additional 1 320 MW electricity generation, allowing the country to reach 100% electricity coverage.
NEWSBANGLADESH NEWS
On March 20th with the inauguration of the 1320 MW Payra power plant, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the country’s 100 per cent electricity coverage, putting Bangladesh ahead of countries like India or Pakistan. This USD 2.5 billion project started in 2016 and was delivered on time, with an identical power plant planned to be constructed soon nearby, together with several other plants that will run on LNG and renewable energies.
This population full coverage is not a small accomplishment having in mind history. After Bangladesh's independence in 1971, only 3% of the total population had access to electricity.
The rise of Bangladesh’s economy requires a steady increase in electricity generation and attracts more and more foreign investors.
One of them, Qatar’s “Nebras” acquired end February a 24% stake in Bangladesh’s “Unique Meghnaghat Power” which is constructing a 584 MW power plant 30 km east of Dhaka. The plant will be powered by General Electric’s state-of-the-art 9HA.01 gas turbine, one of the most efficient one in the world.
Another one, “Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corp.” (KIND) has won the exclusive right to push ahead with a USD 700 million power infrastructure project, planned to build a smart grid system in Purchabal, 15 km from Dhaka.
Korean companies have so far won the exclusive rights to proceed with four separate infrastructure projects worth USD 10.2 billion.
The next challenge is now “uninterrupted electricity at affordable price” as per Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, requiring improvement and modernization of the transmission and distribution systems.
Several projects of solar electricity plants were approved in the last months, some of them seeing an increase in the buying price from the Power Development Authority in order to stimulate offers from private companies, especially for remote areas of the country.
One popular trend among factory owners and most owner of large buildings, is the installation of solar panels on their rooftops, allowing them to benefit from a cheaper price per kWh while leaving their consumption to be used by the rest of the users.
https://english.news.cn/20220323/02a1bb98b82b465a9774029ad01797fd/c.html
https://www.gulf-times.com/story/710759/Nebras-acquires-24-stake-in-Bangladesh-s-Unique-Me
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/03/120_324825.html
https://www.power-technology.com/news/sungrow-inverter-contract-bangladesh/
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/04/12/bangladeshs-highest-opex-rooftop-pv-plant-goes-online/