Bheramara 410 MW (NWPGCL) DFG Power Plant

Current Status: Operation

Source: North-West Power Generation Company Limited

Bheramara 410 MW Gas Power Plant, also known as Bheramara CC Power Station, is a Combined Cycle (CC) power plant situated in Bahir Char under Bheramara Upazila in Kushtia District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.0504, 89.0175). It is sponsored by North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), as a Public Power Plant (PPP) for 22 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 9 May 2017 (simple cycle) and 14 December 2017 (combined cycle). According to the schedule, It will retire on 8 May 2039 and 13 December 2039, respectively.

Capacity

The power plant's installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity is 414 MW and 410 MW, respectively.

Context

The power plant's genesis can be traced back to the year 2000, when the country's electricity consumption was rapidly outpacing its generation capacity. With an annual demand growth rate of approximately 8%, Bangladesh faced the challenge of meeting a projected demand of 19,312 MW by 2025. This staggering figure necessitated the urgent construction of over 5,000 MW of capacity by 2015 and around 20,000 MW by 2025, factoring in a 25% reserve margin.

In 2007, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) stepped in, conducting a comprehensive feasibility study that laid the groundwork for the realisation of the Bheramara power plant. With construction commenced in July 2014, the first phase of the plant, boasting a capacity of 278 MW, was commissioned in 2017. The remaining 132 MW, completing the plant's full capacity of 410 MW, commitioned in 2018 (GEMW, 2023).

The plant is located in Bahir Char under Bheramara Upazila in Kushtia District of Bangladesh.  The site is near Bheramara thermal power plant.  It is situated near Bheramara Thermal Power Plant.

Land Acquisition

The power plant covers approximately 11.43 acres according to google earth.

Financiers

The Bheramara Combined Cycle Dual Fuel Power Plant, with a total construction cost of BDT 37.85 billion, was financed through a collaboration between the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The GOB contributed BDT 6.35 billion, reflecting the commitment of the government to invest in critical infrastructure projects (FE,2018). Simultaneously, JICA, the Japanese governmental agency specializing in development assistance, provided project assistance to support the construction and development of the power plant. (NWPGCL, 2023). 

Sponsor

The Bheramara 410 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, a vital addition to Bangladesh's power infrastructure, is sponsored by the North West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL). (NWPGCL, 2023). 

Contractors

The Bheramara Combined Cycle Dual Fuel Power Plant was executed by M/s. Marubeni Corporation, Japan, serving as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor. The contract, formalized on March 16, 2014, marked Marubeni Corporation's commitment to manage the plant's design, material procurement, and construction. (NWPGCL, 2023). 

Fuel Supply

The Bheramara Combined Cycle Dual Fuel Power Plant strategically manages its fuel supply with a dual-fuel system, utilizing both Natural Gas and High-Speed Diesel (HSD). While the primary fuel source is natural gas, the project recognizes the importance of contingency planning for emergency situations or potential gas supply interruptions. To address this, the plant incorporates HSD as a backup fuel. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) oversees the importation of HSD from abroad and its transportation to the facility. BPC is actively involved in ensuring a seamless fuel supply chain, involving the preparation of tankers, the construction of HSD storage facilities in Khulna, and railway upgrades for efficient transportation to the Bheramara site. Two large HSD storage tanks, each with a capacity of 50,000 kL, are also constructed at the power plant. T  (JICA, 2009). 

Environment

According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA, 1995). However, no EIA report was found for this power plant. The combustion of diesel fuel in HSD power plants contributes to climate change by releasing CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming and its associated impacts such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruptions. Moreover, HSD power plants often produce significant noise levels during operation, particularly from the machinery and cooling systems. This noise can disturb nearby residents, and sensitive ecosystems. According to the Environmental Conservation rule 1997 the project falls in Red category indicating it as potentially harmful project (MOEFCC 1997).

References

• FE 2018. “PM Hasina inaugurates Bheramara 410-MW Power Plant” The Financial Express (FE) : 26 November 2023. 

• GEMW 2023. “Background of Bheramara power station”. Global Energy Monitor Wiki (GEMW): 25 November 2023. 

• JICA 2009. “Site conditions''. The Study Of Bheramara Combined Cycle Power Station In Bangladesh, Final Report  by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): 25 November 2023. 

• NWPGCL 2023. “Bheramara 410 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant”. North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL): 26 November 2023.