Current Status: Operation
Representational Picture: SUMMIT
Ullapara 11 MW Gas Power Plant, also known as Summit Ullapara Power Plant, is a reciprocating engine-based power plant situated in Lahiri Mohanpur under Ullapara in Sirajganj District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.3072, 89.5509). It is operated by Summit Power Limited (SPL), a subsidiary of Summit Group, as a Small Independent Power Producer (SIPP) for 15 years. SPL declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 2 March 2009, and, as per schedule, the power plant is to retire on 1 March 2024. But according to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) daily generation report the power plant is still in operation.
Capacity
The installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the power plant is 11.6 MW and 12 MW respectively.
Context
On 11 October 2007, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Summit Power Limited (SPL) to establish an 11 MW DFG power plant at Ullapara (BPDP, 2022). On 2 March 2009 it started its commercial operation. This initiative was established to supply electricity to Sirajganj Palli Bidyut Samity through a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Board (REB) in Bangladesh. Additionally, an implementation agreement has been endorsed with the government of Bangladesh (GoB). The overall power generation capacity is set at 11 megawatts (MW) (SUMMIT,2023). Summit Power Limited (SPL) provides electricity to both the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB).
Land Acquisition
This power plant is situated in Ullapara, Sirajgonj. According to google earth 0.3 acres is the approximate land area of this power plant.
Finance
The total budget of the power plant has not been disclosed but according to the reports, Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) financed BDT 150 million Tk for the project (IDCOL 2022).
Sponsor
Summit Power Limited (SPL) is one of the power companies listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) that has sponsored this power plant.
Contractor
The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Summit Power Limited (SPL) for the establishment of this power plant.
Power Generation
The Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the power plant was 2 March 2009 (BPDB 2010). According to the PPA, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) is liable to purchase electricity from the power plant for 15 years.
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). But, to date, no IEE or EIA report has been conducted for the power plant. Generating electricity using fuel emits harmful pollutants like CO2, NOx, CO, VOCs, and PM, which can endanger human health and deteriorate air quality. Performing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this power plant is vital. It's important to acknowledge the power plants, which are less efficient and more environmentally detrimental than combined cycle plants. 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).
References
BPDB 2010. Annual Report 2009-2010. Bangladesh Power Development Board: 1 August 2010
BPDB 2022. Information of Generation/Purchase. Annual Report 2022-23.
SUMMIT 2023. Ullapara Power Plant. SUMMIT .2023.
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