| IPP and RPCL |
|
A. IPP Generation in RPCL
B. Captive / Small Power purchase.
RURAL POWER COMPANY LIMITED (RPCL): Power is considered as one of the most important infrastructure facility for development of country's economy. Bangladesh being a developing country, the importance of power specially in rural areas can not be over emphasized. Rural Electrification has the over all responsibility to implement this rural infrastructure development. Socioeconomic development in rural areas causing the increasing demands of electricity day by day. With the growing use of power based equipment's in agriculture, small & cottage industries, the stable supply of power both in urban and rural areas in the country has become the demand of the time. With the emergence of Market Economy, the demand of stable supply of power has become more and more important for trade, commerce, industry and agriculture for attainment of overall development of the country and alleviation of poverty. The Palli Biddyut Samites (Rural Electric Societies), the Non Government Electric Co-operative Institution in the Power Sector distribute power in the rural areas of the country through their network. But due to shortage of power they always suffer for load shading, which affects the growth of the PBS. Additional generation capacity would help in developing load growth thus improving the viability of the PBSs and enhancing the quality of their service to consumers through uninterrupted reliable power supply. Keeping this in mind the present gap of demand and supply of position of power, looking to the growing demand of electricity in the country. Government of Bangladesh agreed in principle the concept of private sector electricity generation. Government approved this project as a pilot project of private Power Generation project. Accordingly a public limited company named Rural Power Company Limited was formed and registered on 31.12.94 by active participation of Rural Electrification Board (REB) & Five PBSs (Dhaka PBS-1, Tangail PBS, Comilla PBS-1, Narsingdi PBS-1 & Moulvibazar PBS) with the financial assistance and guidance of Asian Development Bank (ADB). In 1990, Japan Consulting Institute (JCI) had conducted a feasibility study and they recommended for gas fired power station in the Mymensingh area. Based on these studies, ADB expressed its willingness to provide loan for 70% cost for the first phase of the power plant (60 MW), provided the project is implemented by a limited company.
PHASE - I The construction of first phase started after turnkey contract was signed between RPCL and a consortium of Mitsui Engineering and Ship building company Ltd. of Japan and EGT (European Gas turbine) of France. Based on Practical situation, the first phase contract was awarded for a 2x35 MW Gas turbine unit. After installation and synchronization, the first unit of the Plant started generation in November 1999 and the second unit in December 1999. Both the units are now running smoothly and producing power above their rated capacity (about 78 MW).
PHASE - II As we all know that the demand of power is increasing everyday. Mymensingh Power Station of Rural Power Company Ltd. was planned for 180 MW combined Cycle during the feasibility study. In 1999 considering the demand of the country Energy Ministry approved the extension of Mymensingh Power station as phase-II and Phase-III.
The extension of phase-II has also increased our equity shareholders beyond Phase-I five shareholder co-operatives, we have another four co-operatives Habiganj PBS, Sirajganj PBS, Natore PBS-1 & Natore PBS-2.
PHASE-III Rural Power Company Limited has already started the works of phase-III for 70 MW Steam Turbine Power Station to make the total Power station as 210 MW Combined Cycle Power Station. KfW, Germany has already made a commitment to finance 40 million DM for phase-III. We hope this is the beginning and RPCL looks forward to expand its Capacity to meet the coming Power demand of the country. In the Greater Mymensingh District the Grid Stations are Mymensingh, Jamalpur,Netrokona & Kishoreganj. Earlier all these Grid Stations received power from Ashuganj Grid station. Now power from Mymensingh power station is entering to the Grid system through Mymensingh Grid Station. Sale of generated electricity is being done as per Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed with Bangladesh Power Development Board. Presently the Power Station (Phase -I & Phase-II) is supplying 150/155 MW of electricity though the contract with BPDB is for 140 MW. With the completion of phase-III the generation capacity will raise up to 210 MW. This power is very small in the context of national requirement but this will share a small portion to make the power stability for greater Mymensingh District for their industrial and agricultural expansion. As we know stable and reliable power is the precondition of economic growth particularly in the expansion of these two sectors. |
GOB instructed RPC for quicker implementation of phase-II with a clear direction. RPC organized the process and the contract was signed on 02.06.1999 with European Gas Turbine S.A. France with identical machine. After successful completion the 1st unit and 2nd unit of phase-II were synchronized with the National Grid and started generation in October 2000 and November 2000 respectively. As per Power Purchase Agreement with Bangladesh Power Development Board phase-II started commercial operation on December 05, 2000.
