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    • Oct 31, 2023
    • 6 min read

Barapukuria 275 MW (BPDB) Coal Power Plant (Unit 3)

Updated: Nov 1, 2023

Current Status: Operation


Barapukuria 275 MW Coal Power Plant (Unit III), also known as Barapukuria Coal Power Plant (Unit-3), is a Supercritical thermal power plant situated in Dudhipur and Durgapur of Barapukuria under Parbartipur Upazila in Dinajpur District of Bangladesh (Location: 25.4963, 88.9533). It has been sponsored by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 25 years. The power plant started commercial operation on 1 January 2018 and, as per schedule, it will retire on 31 December 2043.


Capacity

The installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the Barapukuria 275 MW Coal Power Plant (Unit III) is 275 MW of which 274 MW respectively.


Context

The Barapukuria Coal-fired Power Plant is under the ownership of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), a state-owned entity responsible for electricity generation, procurement, transmission, and distribution in Bangladesh. This power plant, known as BCFP, holds the distinction of being Bangladesh's inaugural coal-based power facility. Presently, it boasts three units, collectively delivering a capacity of 525 MW. However, due to coal supply shortages from the Barapukuria Coal Mine (BCMCL), the plant typically operates at approximately 370 MW capacity, occasionally undergoing shutdowns.


Barapukuria's Unit 3 expansion was initially planned to have a 250 MW capacity. According to the BPDB, it received approval from the Cabinet "Purchase Committee" with an expected commissioning date of March 2016 (BPDB 2013; BPDB 2011-2012). In 2012, the Bangladesh Power Development Board stated that the project had not advanced, even though they had extended the tender submission deadline for the power plant three times (BPDB 2012). In October 2015, construction activities for the project commenced. On December 3, 2017, reports indicated that the new unit was in the testing phase and would be finished shortly (Dhaka Tribune, 2017). The report indicated a capacity of 275 MW for the plant and projected an annual coal consumption of 600,000 tonnes, with 75 percent sourced from the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company (Daily Star, 2015).


The commissioning was scheduled for 2018 (Dhaka Tribune, 2017). In April 2018, it was reported that the development work on the unit would extend until the end of that year (Daily Star, 2018). The unit was reported as operational in July 2018 (Dhaka Tribune, 2018). The first and second units commenced commercial operations in 2006, with the third unit following suit in 2018 (BWGED 2021). CCC Engineering and Harbin Electric were chosen to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the coal-fired power project, which was developed by them. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is the current owner of the project, and it operates as a Steam Turbine power plant. The fuel source for this power plan is Barapukuria Coal Mine (Power Technology, 2023).


Land Acquisition

The Barapukuria Power Station is situated in Durgapur, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, and comprises two 125-megawatt units and one 275 MW unit. The power plant, encompassing all three units, covers a significant land area of 278.30 acres, which is owned by residents. The project mainly impacts communities consisting of farmers and landowners, although the precise number of individuals directly and indirectly affected remains undisclosed (BWGED 2021).


Finance

The Barapukuria 250 MW Coal Power Plant in Bangladesh, comprising Units I and II, underwent a significant 275 MW capacity expansion in 2018. Owned and operated by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), it is a subcritical thermal power plant with a total budget of USD 332.31 million or about BDT 36,41 crore (According to 17 September 2023 the foreign exchange rate is 1 USD equal to 109.57 BDT). The funding sources include a sponsor's investment of USD 0.53 million or about 58,072,328.42 BDT, an overseas loan from ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) amounting to USD 224 million or 24,54 crore BDT, and a Government of Bangladesh (GOB) investment of USD 107.78 million or 11,80 crore BDT. Information about domestic loans is not disclosed (BWGED 2021).


Sponsor

The sponsor of the Barapukuria 275 MW Coal Power Plant (Unit 3) is Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) (BWGED 2021).


Contractors

The Barapukuria 275 MW Coal Power Plant project in Bangladesh has involved prominent contractors and companies in its construction and operation. Two Chinese-based Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors, Harbin Electric International Company Limited (HEIC) and CCC Engineering Limited (CCCE) have played key roles in power plant construction. However, specific details about other contractors responsible for building construction, civil engineering, fuel transport, jetty construction, river dredging, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) have not been provided in the available information, leaving these aspects undisclosed (BWGED 2021).


Suppliers

The Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL) has the responsibility of providing the crucial coal supply required to sustain the power plant, ensuring a reliable and consistent source of primary energy. However, specific information regarding the supplier responsible for boilers and engines, as well as the providers of gas and steam turbines, has not been disclosed in the available information (BWGED 2021).


Fuel Supply

The Barapukuria 275 MW Coal Power Plant relies primarily on coal as its main energy source, primarily obtained from the Barapukuria coal mine and supplemented with Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). It incorporates a blend of both domestic and imported fuels while making use of Supercritical (SC) technology to improve the efficiency of power generation (BWGED 2021).


Power Generation

Barapukuria Coal-fired Power Plant in Bangladesh expanded with a 275 MW third unit in 2018, totaling 525 MW. It responds to Bangladesh's growing electricity demand. Owned by BPDB, the plant faces coal supply challenges from the Barapukuria Coal Mine. It commenced operation in 2018, with a 30-year expected lifetime until 2048, and BPDB plays a vital role in electricity generation and distribution (BWGED 2021).


Environment

The environmental impact assessment (EIA), which encompassed all three units of the power plant, was conducted by the Ministry of Environment. This EIA report provides specific findings and information related to the project's environmental effects (Kamal, R., 2018). The Barapukuria Coal Power Plant has instigated notable socio-economic shifts in nearby communities, impacting landowners, farmers, and marginalized groups. Additionally, it has caused environmental effects on the land, water, and air in these areas. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment actively engages in assessing and addressing the greenhouse gas emissions from the 525 MW power plant, which releases approximately 4,281,67 tons of CO2 annually. Moreover, the power plant's substantial daily groundwater usage, totaling 2,400 metric tons, has led to significant depletion, affecting residents in 15 villages with an average village population of approximately 1,461, underscoring the extensive potential ramifications. (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2011).

The Barapukuria Coal Power Plant treats wastewater before it enters the Tilai River, conducting monthly tests. However, a 2015 study found untreated industrial wastewater discharges into the river, impacting underground water. The plant's ash ponds contain harmful heavy metals like boron (B), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg), posing a risk to groundwater sources (Hossain et al., 2015). Coal-based power plants emit carbon dioxide (CO2), Sulphur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and suspended particulate matter (PM) through the chimneys (Pokale, 2012).


Carbon Footprint

All three units combined with a 525 MW subcritical power plant emit 42,81,669 tons of CO2 annually (Kamal, R., 2018).


Criticism

Environmental findings from the government sometimes contradict those of local universities and NGOs. It is recommended to establish standardized independent monitoring procedures for power plants in collaboration with universities and environmental organizations. Water pollution, depletion, a significant carbon footprint, unchecked untreated wastewater release into the Tilai River, and harmful heavy metals in ash ponds pose environmental and health risks. Coal power plants' air pollution also raises health concerns. The socioeconomic impact on local communities is unclear and requires further evaluation. Overall, the Barapukuria Coal Power Plant presents significant environmental and social challenges, highlighting the need for an urgent transition to cleaner energy sources.


References

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