BPDB inks contract to buy electricity from N'ganj waste-to-energy plant

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has signed a contract with a Chinese high-tech environmental protection company named U&D Environmental Equipment Technology Co Ltd to purchase electricity from a waste-to-energy power plant set to be constructed at Jalkuri in Narayanganj. 

The BPDB will purchase power from the 6MW plant for 20 years at a rate of 20.91 cents equivalent to Tk19.87 per kilowatt hour. 

Narayanganj City Corporation will supply 600 tonnes of municipal waste to generate electricity. Power from this plant will be generated through using incineration technology with garbage being burnt to create heat for power generation.

The deal signing ceremony for the implementation of the 6MW waste-to-energy plant in Narayanganj was held at a city hotel on Thursday.  On behalf of the Power Division, Joint Secretary Nirod Chandra Mondal signed the agreement. 

Apart from the power purchase agreement, U&D Environmental Equipment Technology Co Ltd also signed a deal for the power plant's implementation, waste supply and land use. 

Md Tazul Islam, minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, on the occasion said waste-to-energy generation addresses two major issues – use of renewable energy and environmental protection. 

"Dhaka North City Corporation will start work on generating electricity from waste within the next one month. All the processes for another in Gazipur are also at the final stage. Dhaka South will also start soon and Chattogram's one is under process," he added. 

Speaking as special guest, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said electricity generation from waste will gradually start in all the city corporations of the country. 

Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and BPDB Chairman Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman also spoke at the event, while Power Division Secretary Md Habibur Rahman chaired the programme.

It may be recalled that on 1 December last year, the BPDB signed another agreement to build a 42.5MW waste-to-energy plant at Aminbazar of Dhaka, using the garbage of Dhaka North City Corporation. 

Earlier, a waste-to-energy project was undertaken by the BPDB in Keraniganj municipal area on a pilot basis. But it was cancelled because of the high cost of electricity tariff. 

At the time, the BPDB got an offer of Tk40 per kilowatt hour. 

The government has conducted a feasibility study on waste-to-energy in six municipalities. 

Potential sites are Mymensingh, Cox's Bazar, Sirajganj, Habiganj, Dinajpur and Jashore.