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Bheramara 60 MW (BPDB) HSD Power Plant (Unit 1-3)

  • 1 day ago
  • 3 min read

Current Status: Contract Expired

Representational Image: Financial Express


Bheramara 60 MW Diesel Power Plant, also known as Bheramara GT Power Station, is a Gas Turbine (GT) Power Plant situated at Bheramara pourashava under Bheramara Upazila in Kushtia District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.0489, 89.0179). It has been sponsored by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 25 years. The second unit (20 MW) of the power plant started its commercial operation on 27 April 1976, while the first unit (20 MW) on 28 July 1976 and the third unit (20 MW) on 19 January 1980. As per schedule, the units were to retire on 26 April 2001, 27 July 2001, and 18 January 2005, respectively. However due to tenure extension, the second and first units retired on 30 June 2020, and the third unit will retire on 30 June 2025 after 44.4 years of operation on average.According to the BPDB daily generation report dated 07 February 2025, the Bheramara 60 MW (BPDB) HSD Power Plant did not contribute any electricity generation to the national grid. The plant’s power purchase/operation contract period has expired, and no new contract agreement has been signed between the power plant authority and the Government of Bangladesh for continued operation. Therefore, the plant is currently not in commercial operation. (BPDB,2025)


Capacity

The combined installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the power plant is 60 MW and 48 MW, respectively.


Context

Bheramara Power Plant emerged as a HSD based power producing source in Bheramara, Kushtia District. It had been commissioned in 1976, this Open Cycle Gas Turbine (GT) or Combustion Turbine (CT) power plant, under the stewardship of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). Its scheduled retirement date of June 30, 2025, marks the culmination of nearly five decades of service. The Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the first unit of 20 MW was 28 July 1976.  In comparison, the second unit of 20 MW started commercial operation on 27 April 1976 and the third unit of 20 MW on 19 January 1980. After serving for more than 44 years, the first and second unit were scheduled to be retired on 30 June 2020, while the third unit will be retiring on 30 June 2025  (BPDB 2020). In an emergency meeting held in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the GOB decided to keep the HSD-based power plant closed from 19 July 2022 (Daily Star, 2022). 


Fuel

Bheramara Power Plant relies primarily on High Speed Diesel (HSD) as its primary source of energy. However, to optimise performance and environmental compliance, the plant maintains the capability to switch to Dual Fuel Generation (DFG), utilising natural gas as a secondary fuel source. 


Finance 

Not sufficient information found on the finance of this power plant.


Power Generation

According to BPDB daily generation data, there is no generation from the power plant in 2023-24.


Environment

According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA, 1995). Polluting industries, such as power plants, must undergo an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and EIA as directed in the Environmental Conservation Rules 2017 (MOEFCC 1997). 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 2023 the project falls in the “Red” indicating it as a potential harmful project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023).


References

 
 
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