Current Status: Retired

Ashuganj 150 MW Gas Power Plant (Unit 3), also known as Ashuganj-III Thermal Power Plant, is a Gas Turbine (GT) power plant situated in Ashuganj Power Station Complex in Sonaram under Ashuganj Upazila in Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.0432, 91.0149). It is sponsored by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) under Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), as a publicly owned Independent Power Producer (IPP) for 25 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 12 December 1986 and, according to schedule, it was to retire on 11 December 2011. However, the power plant retired on 17 December 2021 after 35 years of operation.
Capacity
The power plant's installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity was 150 MW and 129 MW respectively.
Context
In July 1970, two units (Unit 1 and 2) became operational, and provisions were made to preserve facilities for the potential establishment of three additional units in the future. Following the post-liberation period, the Ashuganj Power Plant played a significant role in the reconstruction and economic development of Bangladesh, which had been severely affected by the war (APSCL, 2016).
Subsequently, in response to the growing electricity demand, a plan was devised to enhance the capacity of the Ashuganj Power Plant. M/S Lahmyer International from Germany conducted an assessment and recommended the construction of three new units (referred to as units 3, 4, and 5), each with a capacity of 150 MW (APSCL, 2016).
The project in Bangladesh, approved on June 16, 1982, and completed in 1986, involved extending the Ashuganj steam power plant located on the Meghna River's left bank, northeast of Dhaka. It added two 150 MW gas-fired units (Unit 3 and Unit 4) along with related equipment (Opec Fund, n.d.). It was commissioned on December 17, 1986 (APSCL, 2016).
Land acquisition
Construction of the Ashuganj Thermal Power Plant commenced in 1966 after acquiring a 311-acre parcel of land on the northeast side of the Meghna Railway Bridge where Unit-3 has taken some space of about an acre (calculated from Google Earth) (APSCL, 2016).
Finance
The project's (Unit 3 and Unit 4) total cost was $328.40 million or BDT 3588.79 crore (on 21 September 2023), with a $30.00 million or BDT 331.48crore (on 2 September 2023) contribution from the OPEC Fund. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), IDA, ADB, KfW, and the government were co-financiers, and KFAED served as the loan administrator (Opec Fund, n.d.).
Sponsors
It is sponsored by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). To set up these three units, M/S Lahmyer International was designated as the advisor (APSCL, 2016).
Contractors
Various equipment for the project came from different countries. The turbo-generator component was provided and set up by M/S BBC from Germany (now known as ABB), while the boiler section was manufactured by IHI in Japan and supplied and installed by M/S Mitsui and Co. from Japan. Other essential equipment was sourced and installed by M/S BBC (Germany), M/S IHI (Japan), M/S KDC (Korea), and M/S PCC (Korea). Additionally, the 230KV Ashuganj-Ghorashal transmission line was established by M/S Lucky International from Korea (APSCL, 2016).
Fuel Supply
The primary fuel source for this power plant is natural gas, primarily supplied by the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Ltd (APSCL, 2016).
Power Generation
The power plant had an installed (gross) capacity of 150 MW and a derated (net) capacity of 129 MW (APSCL, 2016), accompanied by 230 kV double circuit transmission lines that extended over a distance of 48 km (Opec Fund, n.d.).
Environment
Ashuganj-III Thermal Power Plant is a Gas Turbine (GT) power plant using natural gas as fuel. When fossil fuels like natural gas are combusted, they emit greenhouse gases, such as CO2, NOx, etc. which act like a "greenhouse" in the Earth's atmosphere, trapping heat and thereby contributing to the phenomenon of global warming and climate change. Gas turbines, by design, burn gas to produce energy, and this process results in the release of greenhouse gases and destroys ecological balance. Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL) has integrated an extensive management system in alignment with ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, and OHSAS 18001:2007 as an extension of its corporate objectives (APSCL, 2016). No EIA report was found except for 400 MW CCPP. Still, it was found on the website that in terms of the environment, APSCL acknowledges its social responsibility and role in global environmental protection, commits to dynamic environmental management with continuous feedback, strives for full compliance with laws and agreements, and minimizes adverse environmental impacts through integrated planning. APSCL promotes resource-efficient practices, reducing hazardous waste generation, and encourages suppliers and partners to adopt these principles. This policy is communicated through employee education and training to foster environmentally responsible behavior. However, using fossil fuels like natural gas can cause massive environmental degradation.
Criticism
The power plant got off the service several times as a fire burnt a panel box, due to technical faults and lost its generating capacity due lack of overhauling for a long time (Daily Star, 2005; Daily Star, 2008; Daily Star, 2009)
References
APSCL (2016). “About APSCL”. Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited.
Opec Fund (n.d.). “Ashuganj Thermal Power (Units 3 & 4) Project”. Opec Fund for International Development.
Daily Star (2005). “Ashuganj power plant needs a thorough overhaul”. Daily Star: 14 May, 2005.
Daily Star (2008). “Unit-3 of Ashuganj Power Station inoperative”. Daily Star: 1 May, 2008.
Daily Star (2009). “3 Ashuganj power units silent”. Daily Star: 7 January, 2009.