State-owned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd. (PGCB) has taken initiative to build four new grid substations in different parts of the country and expand the existing four grid substations. A bilateral agreement was signed with China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC) on Monday, PGCB official said.
New 230/132 KV grid substations will be constructed at Fen, Birulia (Savar), Naogaon and Purbasadipur (Dinajpur). In addition, necessary expansion work will be done at existing Bhulta (Narayanganj) 400/230 KV, Bogra 230/132 KV, Barapukuria 230/132 KV and Niamatpur (Naogaon) 132/33 KV grid substations.
PGCB's Company Secretary (additional in charge) Md. Jahangir Azad and CNTIC's Project Manager Pei Ruonan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.
According to the agreement, CNTIC will complete all work and hand over the grid substations to PGCB within the next 30 months worth around Tk 597.55 crore. The development partner KFW, the Government of Bangladesh and PGCB are jointly financing the project.
These grid substations are being constructed and expanded under the Energy Efficiency in Grid Based Power Supply Project adopted by PGCB.
The signing ceremony was held at the PGCB's head office following strict rules of social distance and hygiene in situations caused by coronavirus infection. PGCB Executive Director (O&M) Md. Masum Alam Bakshi, Chief Engineer (P&D) Abdur Rashid Khan, Project Director Md. Shafiullah, CNTIC Site Manager Zhang Kun were present on the occasion.
In addition, the government has implemented 104 projects including 20 projects of PGCB in the power sector. All the projects were running. But most of the work is being hampered due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Officials said there is a link between the delay in construction and the increase in project costs. Therefore, attention is being paid to how the development work can be done keeping the project cost as high as possible.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, in a recent teleconference with officials in the sector directed that important projects will have to indentify and to reschedule if necessary. He said the project needs to be completed to offset the losses and keep costs under control.
The junior minister said, "We have to keep an eye on the completion of all the works within the stipulated time. Therefore, it is necessary to make a list by deciding which projects need to be implemented now.”