DHAKA, Jan 3, 2024 (BSS) - The Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) Ltd, a state-owned power generation entity, is set to build another three solar power plants with 300MW capacity at Sonagazi upazila in Feni district of the country.

EGCB recently signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Japanese business conglomerate Marubeni Corporation to develop a 100 MW solar power plant in that area.

Tariff of this 100MW solar power plant is already approved by Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP).

As per CCGP approval, the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will buy per unit of electricity at US Cent 10.09 from the plant over the period of 20 years.

Sources said the construction of the solar power plant will start soon.

On the other hand, EGCB is also going to develop another 100MW solar power plant with Hero Future Energies Asia Pte. Ltd., a Singapore based company, in the same area.

Tariff and joint venture related activities of this project are ongoing at this moment.

EGCB is also in discussion with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for arranging concessional finance to build another 100 MW solar power plant at Sonagazi.

Apart from this, EGCB is currently constructing75 MW Solar PV Power Plant in that area, which is at final stage. 75 MW Solar Power plant of EGCB will start supplying electricity to national grid very soon.

Talking to BSS, Managing Director of EGCB Major General (Retd) Moin Uddin said EGCB has planned to diversify its generation portfolio enhancing its renewable energy generation capacity and contribute to achieve various renewable energy targets of government.

Renewable Energy projects will help meet growing demand of electricity, as well as contribute further to develop the economy of the country, he said.

Moin Uddin said EGCB has acquired a large area of around1000 acres of land for development of Solar power plants at Sonagazi Upazila, adjacent (eastern side) to the newly built Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Musapur Closure (1.08 km length) over Feni River.

Acquired land is located at 40 kms south from Feni Sadar, 10 kms south from Sonagazi Sadar and 10 kms north-west from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN), Mirsarai.

In the first phase, the company is building 75 MW Solar PV Power Plant using approximately 285 acres of land to feed power to Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd. (PGCB)'s 400/230 KV Grid Substation at Mirsarai Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) area on the southern side, Moin Uddin added.

He said that a 230 kV 13.3 km Transmission Line up to Grid Substation and a 33/230KV AISSubstation at Plant area are being constructed under the project.

"EGCB has also planned to build more PV Plant in remaining land. EGCB is also in process of acquiring 386 acres of land in south adjacent to existing land to build further Solar PV plants. In future, it will be a Renewable Energy (RE) power hub," he added.

Managing Director of the Marubeni Asian Power Bangladesh Ltd Shigeru Nagashima said they are focusing on high quality eco-friendly and sustainable infrastructure development in Bangladesh.

In line with this, he informed, they joined hand with EGCB to develop the 100 MW solar PV power plant.