Current Status: Retired
Representational Picture: (The Daily Asian Age, 2017)
Brahmanbaria 70 MW Gas Power Plant, also known as Aggreko Brahmanbaria Rental Power Plant (Unit 1), is a reciprocating engine-based power plant situated in Datiapara under Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila in Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh (Coordinates: 23.9681, 91.1064) approx. It is sponsored by Aggreko Power Solutions Limited (APSL), a subsidiary of Aggreko International Limited (AIL), as a Quick Rental Power Plant (QRPP) for three years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 6 March 2011 and, as per schedule, it was to retire on 5 March 2014.
Capacity
Initially, the net capacity of Brahmanbaria Gas Power Plant was 70 MW. In 2014, Aggreko updated the capacity to 85 MW.
Context
In November 2010, Bangladesh's Power Development Board (BPDB) entered into a rental power agreement with the UK-based company Aggreko for the installation of two gas-fired power plants, totaling 150MW. Under this contract, an 80 MW power station has been established in Brahmanbaria. The primary objective of this three-year agreement was to ensure a reliable source of electricity during the irrigation season in February 2011, as a fail-safe measure to meet the region's power demand. The construction of these power plants was expected to commence shortly after the contract signing and was expected to be completed within approximately four months (PT, 2010).
Following the contract extension, the fee for daily capacity usage per MW amounts to USD$ 466.67. The monthly cost for utilising the facility totals BDT 9 crore 52 lakh Tk, while the yearly expense comes to BDT 114 crore 24 lakh taka (Ali 2020). The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) gave the license to Aggreko International Projects Limited (AIPL) for generating 85 MW of electricity from DFG commercially on 26 April 2018 (BERC 2018).
Land Acquisition
According to google mag approximately O.52 Acre is the total area of this power plant.
Finance
Aggreko Power Solutions Limited (APSL) has financed for this power plant. The center's monthly utilization expense amounts to BDT 9 crore 52 lakh, with an annual cost totaling BDT 114 crore 24 lakh Tk.
Sponsor
Aggreko Power Solutions Limited (APSL) was the sponsor of this power plant.
Contractor
No information found about the contractor of the power plant.
Fuel Supply
Power Generation
The scheduled Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the power plant was 28 February 2011 (BPDB 2010).
Environment
According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA 1995). Polluting industries, such as power plants, must undergo an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and EIA as directed in the Environmental Conservation Rules 2017 (MOEFCC 1997). The fuel which is used to generate electricity releases harmful pollutants such as CO2, NOx, CO, VOCs, and PM. These substances can negatively impact human health and contribute to air pollution. Moving from natural gas to renewable energy sources in the near future would be a more environmentally responsible choice as it is less environmentally harmful.
Criticism
It did not fulfil its expected electricity generation . A lot of money has to be invested as capacity charges to this power plant. According to the environmental conservation rule 2023 the project falls in the “Orange” indicating it as a moderate harmful project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023).
Capacity Charge
The total generation of the power plant in its lifetime was 3981.20 gWh. The total cost of the power plant was BDT 1982.44 Crore. The per unit average generation cost of the power plant was BDT 4.90. Total capacity charge paid for the power plant is BDT 1448.89 Crore.
Year | Generation (gWh) | Total Cost (crore BDT) | Unit Cost (avg BDT) | Capacity (crore BDT) |
FY 2018-2019 | 317.58 | 129.76 | 4.09 | 87.20 |
FY 2017-2018 | 334.44 | 174.61 | 5.22 | 128.19 |
FY 2016-2017 | 436.45 | 182.70 | 4.19 | 124.38 |
FY 2015-2016 | 549.00 | 201.63 | 3.67 | 125.61 |
FY 2014-2015 | 617.19 | 362.61 | 5.88 | 278.64 |
FY 2013-2014 | 523.01 | 281.62 | 5.38 | 215.50 |
FY 2012-2013 | 508.85 | 284.53 | 5.59 | 222.29 |
FY 2011-2012 | 509.41 | 278.85 | 5.47 | 203.19 |
FY 2010-2011 | 185.27 | 86.13 | 4.65 | 63.89 |
Total | 3981.20 | 1982.44 | 4.90 | 1448.89 |
References
BPDB 2010. Annual Report 2009-2010. Bangladesh Power Development Board: 1 August 2010
Ali, Ismail 2020. "২২ বিদ্যুৎকেন্দ্রে বছরে গচ্চা দুই হাজার ৩০০ কোটি টাকা". The Share Biz: 27 July, 2020.
Power Technology 2010. Bangladesh to Lease Power Units from UK’s Aggreko. Power Technology ,23 November, 2010.
BERC 2018. Minutes of the 75th Open Meeting. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC): 26 April 2018
MOEFCC (1997). ‘The Environmental Conservation Rules. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC)’: 27 August 1997
MOEFCC (2023). “The Environmental Conservation Rules”. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC): 5 March 2023
MOLJPA (1995). ‘Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995’. Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MOLJPA): 16 February 1995
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