Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the Unit-I of Maitree Power Plant, a 1320 (660x2) MW super critical coal-fired thermal power plant at Rampal, Khulna, after the bilateral meeting in New Delhi.
The power plant, which has taken ‘unique’ environmental safety measures, is being set up at an estimated cost of approximately US$ 2 billion with US $ 1.6 billion as Indian Development Assistance under Concessional Financing Scheme.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of seven MoUs including the Kushiyara water sharing deal before inaugurating the power plant virtually.
The Prime Minister reached New Delhi on Monday on a four-day ‘state visit’ at the invitation of Narendra Modi.
The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, which is popularly known as Rampal Power Plant, has been incorporating environmental friendly measures right from the design stage.
Project Director Subhash Chandra Pandey recently told Bangladesh Post, during a visit, that the technologies they had used in the entire project were “unique” when it comes to mitigating the environmental concerns.
“From the environmental perspective, two things we need to deal with for a coal-fired power plant - one is greenhouse gases and the other is sulphur dioxide, a gas pollutant. Our project is critically committed for the pollutant free generation,” he had said, after Unit-1 was successfully synchronized with the national grid on August 15.
The relevance of coal-fired power plants is felt again in the advanced world in the wake of the Ukraine-Russia war. Germany has put back an old coal-fired power plant on to the network following the debate of how Europe’s largest economy will cope without Russian gas. Countries like India and China are dependent on coal for power generation.
The Rampal power plant, which is being seen as a major step in further strengthening India–Bangladesh Power Sector Cooperation, will go into commercial operation in October, raising the country's electricity generation capacity further.
It is being constructed under the government of India’s Concessional Financing Scheme by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Private Ltd (BIFPCL), a 50:50 Joint Venture Company between India's NTPC and Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
Some of the in-built measures to minimise air and water pollution, inter-alia, include a Flue Gas Desulphurization System (FGD) with no bypass to control the emission of SOx,
Integrated Effluent and Waste Management System to avoid contamination of Pasur River, construction of the tallest Chimney in Bangladesh (at 275 m) for wider dispersion of flue gas emissions, construction of an advance Ship Unloader for coal as well as a fully covered Coal Stock Yard, along with use of High Grade imported coal with low Ash and Sulphur content, among other measures.
They use high-grade coal with low ash and low sulphur content, and also use high efficiency electrostatic precipitators (ESPS) that removes fine particles like dust, low Nox emission technology to remove nitrogen oxide (Nox) gases.
Once a marshy area, the 915.5 acres area of the Rampal power plant now has a modern look.
The company under the project is also helping the local poor people with medical camps, water filter distribution and wheelchairs. Over 100,000 trees have been planted around the area.
The Unit-II of the project is expected to be commissioned early next year. Once both Units are commissioned, the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project is expected to be one of the largest power plants in Bangladesh.