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Mar 124 min read

Ashuganj 450 MW (APSCL) DFG Power Plant (South)

Current Status: Operation

Source: (TSK, 2023)


Ashuganj 450 MW Gas Power Plant (South), also known as Ashuganj South Thermal Power Plant, is a Combined Cycle (CC) power plant situated within Ashuganj Power Station Complex in Sonaram under Ashuganj Upazila in Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh (Coordinates: 24.0432, 91.0149). It has been sponsored by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), as a publicly owned Independent Power Producer (IPP) for 25 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 22 July 2016 and, according to schedule, it is to retire on 21 July 2041.


Capacity

The installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the power plant was 382 MW and 359 MW respectively  (APSCL, 2023a)


Context

Ashuganj Power Station Co Ltd (APSCL) functions as a power corporation engaged in the production and distribution of electricity. The company generates power through both thermal power plants and combined cycle power plants. Its operations involve seven generating units, comprising five steam turbine units, one gas engine, and one gas turbine, utilizing natural gas as a source for power generation.


APSCL's notable project is the Ashuganj 450 MW Gas Power Plant (South), expected to commence commercial operations in late 2015. This project, a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant, is developed and owned by Ashuganj Power Station.  (PT, 2023). The project was commissioned on July 18, 2016 (APSCL, 2023a).


APSCL is approximately 75 km northeast of Dhaka City. The Ashuganj 450 MW CCPP (South) power plant is situated adjacent to the existing Cycle Power Plant (450MW) within the APSCL premises on the bank of the River Meghna. It is noteworthy that the Combined Cycle Power Plant will be installed on APSCL's available land, eliminating the need for new land acquisition. This holds for the Ashuganj 450 MW CCPP (South) as well. The plan is for all the unit(s) to be continuously powered by natural gas (MIGA, 2011).


Land Acquisition

As the power plant will be located within the APSCL's premises, there is no necessity for acquiring new land, thus eliminating any concerns related to resettlement. The initial land allocation for APSCL was 311 acres, a substantial portion of which has already been utilized. The designated site for the Ashuganj 450 MW CCPP (South) is site no. 4, adjacent to the previously planned 450 MW CCPP. The total available area at site 4 is approximately 82,670 square meters, allowing for the accommodation of 2 (two) 450MW Power Plants configured in a 1:1:1 ratio  (MIGA, 2011).


Finance

The plant is projected to be operational with an approximate cost of 37.92 billion BDT (DT, 2014).


Sponsor

The Ashuganj 450 MW Gas Power Plant (South) is funded by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) operating under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), this project serves as a publicly owned Independent Power Producer (IPP) (APSCL, 2023b)


Contractors

Inelectra International and TSK Electronica y Electricidad were chosen to provide engineering procurement construction services for the gas-fired power project. Siemens was selected as the supplier of turbines for the project, furnishing one unit of the SGT5-4000F gas turbine and one unit of the SST-3000 steam turbine. Siemens also supplied the SGen5-2000H electric generator for the project. Additionally, the steam boiler for the project was provided by the John Cockerill Group (PT, 2023).


Fuel Supply

The power plant utilizes natural gas supplied via feeder lines from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (DT, 2014).


Power Generation

The plant has a total installed capacity of 360.2 MW. In the previous fiscal year, it generated 1,754 million kWh of electricity, resulting in sales revenue of BDT 10,315 million. The fuel cost for producing this electricity was BDT 2,904 million. Currently, the average tariff rate for this plant is BDT 2.004. The plant exhibits a plant factor of 53.24%, with an availability factor of 95.59% and a plant efficiency of 53.25%. Throughout the reporting period, the plant operated for a total of 5,912 hours.  (APSCL, 2023b).


Environment

As power projects are identified as having the potential for environmental impact, the Bangladesh Department of the Environment (DoE) has categorized them as being the “Red Category” of industrial processes. As such, an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are required. Since the power plant will be within the APSCL premises, no new requisition of land is required so there will be no question of resettlement. The total quantity of water withdrawal will be about 56.67m3/sec by all the units including the proposed 150 MW CCPP & 450 MW CCPP and the 450 MW CCPP South. This water will be discharged back to the river with a temperature rise of 7 degrees Celsius which can be harmful for the aquatic organisms (MIGA, 2011).


Criticism

The power plant uses 29,000 cubic meters (28,478 tonnes) of water per hour from the Meghna River, which means it uses 683,472 tonnes of water per day and 249.47 million tonnes per year (ADB, 2016). The use of this amount of water can put the aquatic species in danger.


References

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