Current Status: Operation
Source: HF, 2023
Chowmuhani 113 MW Furnace Oil Power Plant, also known as Chowmuhani HF Power Plant, is a reciprocating engine-based power plant situated in Mirwarishpur of Chowmuhani under Begumganj Upazila in Noakhali District of Bangladesh (Location: 22.9742, 91.0977). It is sponsored by HF Power Limited (HFPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Hosaf Group, as a private Independent Power Producer (IPP) for 15 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 31 December 2019 and, as per schedule, the power plant will retire on 30 December 2034.
Capacity
The installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the power plant is 123.56 MW and 113 MW respectively.
Context
Hosaf Group is currently focused on addressing the power capacity issue, given its ownership of four facilities through Energyprima Ltd (EPL), collectively generating 170 megawatts of electricity. (TBS, 2020). The company was incorporated as a Public Limited Company in 2017 to set up a power plant for the supply of electricity under rental basis or as an Independent Power Producer (IPP) basis in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) awarded a 113 MW HFO Fired IPP power plant project to HF Power Limited for 15 years in Chowmuhani, Begumganj, Noakhali, Bangladesh in 2017 (HF, 2023).
According to the contract, the plant was originally slated to be operational by June 4, 2019, in line with the required commercial operation date (RCOD). Additionally, after signing the power purchase agreement in December 2017, the Chowmuhani 113 MW Power Plant had set a target RCOD of June 4, 2020, with the aim of generating electricity from the facility by December 31, 2019 (DS, 2020).
Land Acquisition
The power plant is situated at Mirwarishpur of Noakhali district occupying an area of 7.7 acres (HF, 2023).
Finance
No information has been found about thr finance of the power plant.
Sponsor
The power plant is sponsored by HF Power Limited (HFPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Hosaf Group, as a private Independent Power Producer (IPP) (HF, 2023).
Contractors
Magnus Power Private Limited (MPPL) serves as the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractor for the power plant (MP, 2023). Wärtsilä provided technological support to 113 MW power plant destined for Chowmuhani, Bangladesh (Wartsila, 2018).
Fuel Supply
No information found about the fuel supply of the power plant.
Power Generation
On December 31, 2019, the initiation of electricity supply to the national grid by Chowmuhani 113 MW HFO Power Plant was commenced. The plant, with a total capacity of 113 MW and powered by 12 engines manufactured by Wartsila of Finland, each producing 9.78 MW, operates while ensuring streamlined power evacuation through a 132 KV system. This reflects the company's commitment to delivering efficient and sustainable energy solutions to meet national demands (HF, 2023)
Environment
According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA, 1995). The polluting industries, such as power plants, have to go through an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and EIA as directed in the Environmental Conservation Rules 2017 (MOEFCC, 1997). But, till date, no IEE or EIA report has been found of the power plant.
Criticism
The failure of the Chowmuhani 113 MW Power Plant to meet the agreed commercial operation deadline was a significant issue, reflecting poorly on project management. The plant was supposed to be operational by June 4, 2019, based on the contract's required commercial operation date (RCOD). This delay raised concerns about the financial losses, efficiency and reliability of planning and implementation processes (EP, 2020). According to the Environmental Conservation rule 1997 the project falls in red category indicating it as potential polluting sector (MOEFCC 1997).
References
DS (2020). “Four oil-fired power plants miss operation deadline”. Daily Sun (DS):18 August 2020.
EP (2020). “Four Oil Fired Power Plants Miss Operation Deadline”. Energy & Power (EP):5th September 2020.
HF (2023). ”HF Power Limited”. Hosaf Group (HF): 23 November 2023.
MOEFCC (1997). The Environmental Conservation Rules. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC): 27 August 1997.
MOLJPA (1995). Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995. Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MOLJPA): 16 February 1995.
MP (2023). ”Hosaf power pvt ltd - 113 mw hfo power plant”. Magnus Power (MP): 23 November 2023.
TBS (2020). “PM to inaugurate two more private power plants”. The Business Standard (TBS): 25 August, 2020.
Wartsila (2018). “Wärtsilä’s support for development of Bangladesh continues with another power plant delivery”. Wartsila: 2 May 2018.
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