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Ghorashal 410 MW (BPDB) DFG Power Plant (Unit 3)

  • Jun 25
  • 6 min read

Current Status: Construction

Source: (FFS, 2023)


Ghorashal 410 MW (BPDB) DFG Power Plant (Unit 3), also known as Ghorashal Power Station (Unit-3) or Ghorashal Repowered CC Power Plant Unit-3, is a Combined Cycle (CC) power plant situated in Ghorashal under Palash Upazila in Narsingdi District of Bangladesh (Location: 23.9801, 90.6371). It is sponsored by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 25 years. The power plant started commercial operation with an installed capacity of 210 MW on 14 September 1986, and, as per the schedule, it is to retire on 13 September 2011. In June 2016, BPDB got approval to increase its capacity from 210 MW to 409 MW. The required Commercial Operation Dates (COD) were 30 April 2018 (Gas Turbine unit) and 30 April 2019 (Steam Turbine unit). However, the dates for both units have been delayed to 30 April 2023 (BPDB 2022). Still in 2024 the Ghorashal Repowering Stations Unit 3 and 4 are under construction. According to recent progress reports of PDB the Ghorashal Repowering Stations Unit 3 and 4 were still under construction in 2024, with approximately 97% and 95% completion respectively  (TDS 2024).


Capacity

The installed (gross) capacity of the power plant is 400 MW±5%.


Context

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDP) has taken a number of actions to increase power generation based on the recommendation of the Power System Master Plan 2010 (PSPM 2010). One such action is to enhance power generation by consuming slightly more fuel (gas) by repowering the existing old Steam power plants to combined cycle power plants. The aim of this project is to retrofit the existing steam turbine and its auxiliaries at Ghorashal, Palash, Narsingdi, and repower the existing 210 MW third unit to 400 MW±5% Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP). This has been accomplished by installing one gas turbine unit and one heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). 


The planned construction site is roughly 17 acres (6.88 hectares) of BPDB's fallow land on the northern side, close to unit 3 and inside the Ghorashal power plant's perimeter. The site is located near the eastern bank of the Shitalakshya River and close to the “Parulia Morr (Issakhali)-Ghorashal Zila Road.” The site is situated in Palash Mauza, Ghorashal Municipality, which is part of Palash Upazila, Narsingdi district, administratively. The proposed power plant is expected to receive natural gas supplied by Petrobangla through the existing Regulating and Metering Station (RMS) serving Units 3 and 4 of the Ghorashal Power Plant (MIGA, 2014).


Land Acquisition

Approximately 17 acres (6.88 ha) of land was allocated for the construction of the proposed power plant. (MIGA, 2014).


Finance

In order to finance up to US$ 200 million in debt financing and USD$ 50 million in swap transactions over a 13-year period, the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corporation Limited (HSBC) of Hong Kong, China, has asked MIGA to grant the Ghorasal Unit 3 Repowering project in Bangladesh a Non-Honoring of Sovereign Financial Obligation guarantee. (MIGA, 2023).


Sponsor

The power plant is sponsored by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 25 years  (BPDB 2022).


Contractors

The construction of the Project will be handled by an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractor that is a joint venture between China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC) and Alstom Switzerland Ltd. Baden ("Alstom"). The consortium's technical leader, Alstom, will supply essential equipment such as gas turbines, HRSG, and retrofitting of steam turbines under the terms of the EPC contract, while CMC will lead the consortium and handle overall project management. The real construction will be handled by First Northeast Electric Power Engineering Company, a construction subcontractor that CMC has hired. The primary equipment for the Project will be provided by Alstom (MIGA, 2023).


Fuel Supply

The fuel used in this power plant is natural methane gas (CH4). The supplier of the gas is Petrobangla. Combined cycle technology allows the plant to produce more electricity using comparatively lower fuel consumption than conventional steam plants (Bonik Barta, 2025). 

      

Power Generation

The project also entails building Unit 3's civil structures and a 230kV switchyard. A proposed 28 km, 230 kV transmission line that would connect the power complex to Tongi, about 15 km north of Dhaka, will be used to evacuate the power produced by the project (SERV, 2023). BPDB received permission in June 2016 to expand unit three's current capacity from 210 MW to 409 MW. For the gas turbine unit, the required Commercial Operation Dates (COD) were April 30, 2018; for the steam turbine unit, they were April 30, 2019. The dates for both units, however, have been moved to April 30, 2023 (BPDB, 2022).


Environment

According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industrial and infrastructure projects with potential environmental impacts  (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 1997  (MOEFCC, 1997). Thermal power plants are categorized as “Red Category” industries under the Environmental Conservation Rules 1997 and subsequent amendments, including the Environmental Conservation Rules 2023 (MOEFCC, 1997; MOEFCC, 2023). The Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) conducted an initial environmental examination (IEE) in October 2013 regarding the re-powering of Ghorasal's existing third unit. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Regent Energy and Power Ltd. at Ghorashal, Palash, Narsingdi by Adroit Environment Consultants Ltd. (AECL) dated October, 2013; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Re-Powering of Ghorasal existing 3rd Unit by CEGIS dated June 2014 (SERV, 2023).


According to MIGA's 2013 Policy on Environmental and Social Sustainability, the proposed repowering of Unit 3 at the Ghorashal power complex falls under Category A. Water abstraction and effluent discharge, air pollution (NOx and greenhouse gases), noise, the generation and disposal of solid and hazardous waste (including asbestos), and risks to the health and safety of workers and the community are the main potential environmental and social issues related to the project. The majority of these effects can be controlled by following widely accepted performance standards, guidelines, and/or design criteria  (MIGA, 2023). 


Carbon footprints 

Emissions are predicted to be about 360 tons of CO2 per gigawatt-hour (GWh). The project's annual CO2 emissions are predicted to be 1.31 million tons CO2 equivalent when operating at full capacity. Although the project still relies on fossil fuel, combined cycle technology is considered comparatively more energy efficient and environmentally improved than traditional steam thermal power generation systems (MIGA, 2014).


Criticism

Coal and gas are the main sources of fuel used to boil water in the Ghorashal Power Station (GPS). Water is primarily supplied by the Shitalakshya River. It releases water into the river once more after using it (CEGIS, 2015). Power generation projects are categorized as "Red Category" by the Bangladesh Department of Environment (DoE). To obtain Site Clearance and Environmental Clearance Certificates, Red Category projects must prepare and submit an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the Department of Environmental Protection (DoE).. In October 2013, an IEE with a comprehensive Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EIA study was submitted to DoE. In February 2014, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was prepared and submitted to BPDB (SERV, 2023). 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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