Current Status: Operation
Source: (DAA, 2017)
Ashuganj 450 MW Gas Power Plant (North), also known as Ashuganj North Thermal Power Plant, is a Combined Cycle (CC) power plant situated within Ashuganj Power Station Complex in Sonaram under Ashuganj Upazila in Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh (Coordinate: 24.0432, 91.0149). It is sponsored by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), as a Public Power Plant (PPP) for 25 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 11 June 2017, and according to the schedule, it is to retire on 10 June 2042.
Capacity
The installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the power plant is 380 MW and 354.82 MW respectively.
Context
Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd. is the largest power hub in the country. The present total power (electricity) generation capacity of its eight units is 1690 MW. The company wants to enhance electricity generation to 3060 MW by 2025 and to 5927 MW by 2030. (BP, 2019)
Tecnicas Reunidas (Tecnicas Reunidas SA is a general construction contractor. The company carries out the design, engineering and construction of various types of industrial facilities) and TSK Electronica y Electricidad (TSK Electronica y Electricidad SA is a business group in engineering development and the supply of facilities of the highest quality) spearheaded the project's development, and it is presently under the ownership of Ashuganj Power Station. This facility operates as a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant, representing an innovative approach to power generation (PT, 2023).
The plant commenced its commercial operations on June 11, 2017. This project involved replacing three power plants: Unit-1 (64 MW) with a steam turbine, Unit-2 (64 MW) with another steam turbine, and a combined cycle power plant consisting of Gas Turbine-1 and Gas Turbine-2, each with a capacity of 56 MW, along with a 34 MW steam turbine, resulting in a total capacity of 274 MW. The new project boasts an impressive efficiency of 57.99%, a significant improvement compared to the replaced plant, which had an efficiency of only 35-37%. This upgrade led to a 176-MW increase in generating capacity. The baseline emissions for the 274-MW output will be calculated based on the combined generation of all three plants, while the baseline for the additional 176 MW capacity will be determined based on grid-connected power plants. The reduction in emissions is computed following the guidelines for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from ADB projects. The existing Ashuganj 450 MW CCPP (North) project is expected to reduce approximately 7,95,884 tons of CO2 per year. (ADB, 2022)
Land Acquisition
Situated adjacent to the Dhaka-Sylhet highway and nestled beside the Ashuganj 450 MW South Project, the power plant occupies the same site. The power plant is meticulously enclosed, encompassing an approximate area of 10.17 acres. This facility is under the ownership of the Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL) (ADB, 2022).
finances
No information was found on the way of the power plant.
Sponsor
It is sponsored by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL), a State-owned Enterprise (SOE) under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
Contractors
Tecnicas Reunidas and TSK Electronica Electricidad were chosen to provide their expertise in delivering engineering procurement construction services for the gas-fired power project. Siemens, a prominent player in the industry, was entrusted with the critical role of turbine supplier for the same project, showcasing their excellence by providing both SST-3000 and SGT5-4000F model gas turbines. In addition to their turbine contributions, Siemens also furnished the project with the SGen5-2000H electric generator, ensuring a comprehensive and efficient solution for the venture. And the John Cockerill Group supplied a steam boiler for the project (PT, 2023).
Fuel Supply
Fuel shall be natural gas supplied from Bakhrabad Gas Transmission (IsDB, 2023)
Power Generation
The Power Station is connected with the Ashuganj 400 KV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) Grid Sub-Station and also with the Ashuganj 230 KV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) Grid Sub-Station with necessary electrical equipment (ADB, 2022)
Environment
According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA 1995). The polluting industries, such as power plants, have to go through an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and EIA as directed in the Environmental Conservation Rules 2017 (MOEFCC 1997). The Environmental Monitoring Report is prepared by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL) under the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Environmental monitoring is done by both the project's own arrangement and third party. The combustion chamber's constant release of carbon and NOx will have a long-term detrimental effect on the climate. These have the potential to negatively affect humanity since they are transboundary pollutants and significant greenhouse gases. They may cause glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, oscillate the climate, raise ocean acidification, increase climatic extremes, and more (ADB, 2022).
Carbon Footprint
The project contributes to 30.13% of total carbon emissions by APSCL (ADB, 2022)
Criticism
The power plant uses 30,000 cubic meters (29,460 tonnes) of water per hour from the Meghna River, which means it uses 707,040 tonnes of water per day and 258.07 million tonnes per year (ADB, 2016). The use of this amount of water can put the aquatic species in danger.
References
ADB (2022). “Environmental Monitoring Report Bangladesh: Power System Efficiency Improvement Project”. Asian Development Bank (ADB): July 2022.
ADB (2016). Environmental Impact Assessment: Power System Expansion and Efficiency Improvement Investment Program (Tranche 3). Asian Development Bank (ADB): May 2016
BP (2019). “More 420 MW electricity to be added to the grid by 2021”. Bangladesh Post (BP): 28 Dec 2019.
DAA (2017). “Ashuganj North unit power station starts production”. Daily Asian Age (DAA): 13 June 2017.
IsDB (2023). “Construction of Ashuganj 450 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (North)”. Islamic Development Bank (IsDB): 14 November 2023.
MOEFCC (1997). The Environmental Conservation Rules. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC): 27 August 1997.
MOLJPA (1995). Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995. Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MOLJPA): 16 February 1995.
PT (2023). “Power plant profile: Ashuganj Combined Cycle Power Plant – North, Bangladesh”. Power Technology: Updated July 30, 2023.