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    • Mar 12
    • 3 min read

Habiganj 11 MW (Energypac) DFG Power Plant

Current Status: Operation

Source: EPVL


Habiganj 11 MW Gas Power Plant, also known as Energypac Habiganj Power Plant, is a reciprocating engine power plant situated in the Nosratpour Gate area under Shaistaganj Upazila in Habiganj District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.3474, 91.4063). It is sponsored by Energypac Power Venture Limited (EPVL), a subsidiary of Energypac Limited, as a Small Independent Power Producer (SIPP) for 15 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 10 January 2009, and, as per schedule, the power plant is to retire on 09 January 2024.


Capacity

The installed and net capacity of Energypac Habiganj Power Plant is 11.6 MW and 11 MW, respectively. So the power plant has a capacity of 11.6 (±5%) MW (BPDB, 2023).


Context

Energypac Power Venture Limited (EPVL) was established as a Private Limited Company in Bangladesh on 08 September 2007 (Energypac, 2020). The Habiganj 11 MW Gas power plant is sponsored by Energypac Power Venture Limited (EPVL), an entity that holds a 90% stake in EPVL and is itself a subsidiary of Energypac Power Generation Limited (EPGL). EPGL, in turn, is a subsidiary of Energypac Limited, a major player in the private power generation sector in Bangladesh  (EPVL, 2023). 


Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Energypac Power Venture Limited (EPVL) on 11 October 2007 to buy the evacuated power from the power plant (REB, 2022). The power plant will supply power to BREB for 15 years according to the PPA. After 15 months from PPA, it finally came into commercial operation on 10 January 2009 (BPDB, 2023).  It will retire after giving support for 15 years on 09 January 2024 (BPDB, 2022).  


Land Acquisition

Energypac Power Venture took 2.0 acres of land on lease for 15 years (EPVL, 2023). 


Finance

The power plant is backed by financial support from Energypac Power Venture Limited (EPVL), an entity that holds a 90% stake in EPVL as a sponsor. The exact financial investors/loan provider with the amount of investment has not been found. 


Sponsor

The power plant is sponsored by Energypac Power Venture Limited (EPVL), a subsidiary of Energypac Power Generation Limited (EPGL), which owns 90% of EPVL. EPGL is a subsidiary of Energypac Limited, one of the largest private power producers in Bangladesh  (EPVL, 2023).


Contractors

The engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor of this power plant is  Energypac Power Generation Limited (EPGL) and the Genset Manufacturer is GE Jenbacher with model GE JGS 620 GS N.L. (EPVL, 2023). 


Fuel Supply

Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited (JGTDSL) is the fuel supplier of this power plant (EPVL, 2023). 


Power Generation

In the fiscal year 2021-2022, BREB procured a total of 167.59 crore kWh of electricity from various IPPs/CPPs/CIPPs, comprising 141,71,23,768 kWh from IPPs, 8,57,47,491 kWh from CPPs, and 17,30,70,792 kWh from CIPPs. The collective cost of this electricity acquisition amounted to BDT 568.08 crore. If the same electricity were obtained at the Bulk Supply Tariff (BST) rate, the cost would have been BDT 780.98 crore. Therefore, BREB realized savings of approximately BDT 212.90 crore by opting for electricity purchases from IPPs/CPPs/CIPPs instead of BPDB  (REB, 2022).


Environment

The power plant is running with DFG, which is primarily composed of methane and possibly other hydrocarbons and is categorized as a fossil fuel. Its utilization for electricity generation results in the emission of detrimental pollutants such as CO2, NOx, CO, VOCs, and PM, posing risks to human health and contributing to air pollution. So an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is mandatory for this power plant and following Section 12 of the 1995 Bangladesh Environment Protection Act, it is obligatory for industries, including those causing pollution like power plants, to undergo both an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as outlined in the 2017 Environmental Conservation Rules (MOLJPA 1995; MOEFCC 1997). The absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the power plant raises concerns. Adopting a carbon tax and shifting towards renewable energy sources represents a more environmentally conscious alternative.


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