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Jan 93 min read

Sirajganj 68 MW (BCRECL) Solar Power Plant

Current Status: Construction

Source: (SAUR ENERGY)


Sirajganj 68 MW Solar Park, also known as BCRECL Sirajganj Solar Park, is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant to be situated at Soyedpur near Jamuna Bridge under Sirajganj Sadar Upazila in Sirajganj District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.4007, 89.7374). It is sponsored by Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Company Private Limited (BCRECL) and is a 50:50 Joint Venture Company (JVC) of North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) and China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), as a private Independent Power Producer (IPP) for 20 years. The power plant will start commercial operation by December 2023 and retire in December 2043.


Capacity

As per the power purchase agreement (PPA), the power plant's installed (gross) capacity is to be 68 MW.


Context

The approval of the Sirajganj 68 MW Solar Park project by the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on 8 December 2021 marks a significant step in advancing the development of renewable energy infrastructure in Bangladesh. This approval allows the purchase of electricity generated by the power plant under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act 2021. The Act likely provides a streamlined and expedited framework for the implementation of critical energy projects, allowing for swift decision-making and procurement processes to meet the growing demand for electricity in the country. The approval from CCGP is a testament to the government's commitment to promoting renewable energy and ensuring the efficient and timely execution of key projects that contribute to the nation's energy security and sustainability goals (TBS, 2021).


Land Acquisition

North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL), one of the joint owners of Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Company (Pvt.) Limited (BCRECL), had leased 214 acres of land from the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) in Soydabad, Sirajganj Sadar, Sirajganj, on the Western side of Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge for the implementation of the Sirajganj 68 MW Solar Park Project by BCRECL. The land lease agreement for this parcel of land was officially signed on 21 January 2021 between BBA and NWPGCL. On 13 March 2021, the land was formally handed over to NWPGCL by BBA in a ceremony attended by the honorable Secretary and Executive Director of BBA and the honorable Chief Executive Officer of NWPGCL (BCRECL, 2023). 


Finance

To implement the project, a partnership between North-West Power Generation Company Ltd and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation, known as Bangladesh-China Power Company (Pvt) Limited, has signed agreements for power purchase and project implementation with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The estimated budget for the power plant amounts to USD 87.71 million, with funding to be provided through an equal 50:50 investment from the joint venture company (TBS, 2023).


Contractors

The engineering procurement contract for the Sirajganj Sadar upazila project was signed between Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy and Sinohydro, the Chinese state-owned hydropower engineering and construction business, on February 24, 2022.


Power Generation

According to the EPC, the power plant's Commercial Operation Date (COD) is scheduled for 23 December 2023. As of 9 January 2023, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is going to purchase electricity from Sirajganj 68 megawatt solar park for 20 years at  US$0.102 per kilowatt hour (kWh) or BDT 11.21  (TBS, 2023).


Reference


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