Current Status: Operation
Representational Picture: (UG, 2024)
Jamalpur 115 MW Furnace Oil Power Plant, also known as United Jamalpur Power Plant, is a reciprocating engine-run power plant situated in Char Jatharthapur village of Laxir Char Union under Jamalpur Sadar Upazila in Jamalpur District of Bangladesh (Location: 24.9252, 89.9462). It is sponsored by United Jamalpur Power Limited (UJPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of United Group, as a private Independent Power Producer (IPP) for 15 years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 21 February 2019, and, as per schedule, the power plant will retire on 18 February 2034.
Capacity
The installed and net capacity of the Power Plant is 117.36 MW and 115.08 MW, respectively.
Context
On 21 February 2019,Jamalpur 115 MW Furnace Oil Power Plant started its commercial operation. The plant is an oil-based power plant with a capacity of 115 MW. Commercial production is scheduled to start from July 20, but the plant has started production 5 months earlier. The electricity generated added to the national grid (AB ,2019). United Group has 10 power generating plants with a total production capacity of more than 1000 MW.
Land Acquisition
The total area of this power plant is 6.2 acres.
Finance
The power plant required BDT 660 crore Tk for establishment.
Sponsor
It is sponsored by United Jamalpur Power Limited (UJPL).
Power Generation
The total power generation capacity of this power plant is 115 MW.
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). The pollution from this power plant pollutes the surrounding environment and the water of the river. The construction of the 115 MW HFO-fired United Jamalpur Power Ltd in Jamalpur Sadar involves acquiring land along the Brahmaputra River for development. It pollutes the water of this river. But, to date, no IEE or EIA report has been conducted for the power plant. 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
AB (2019). বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদন শুরু করেছে ইউনাইটেড গ্রুপের জামালপুর পাওয়ার প্লান্ট. Ajker Bazar. 24 February, 2019.
United Group (2022). United Jamalpur Power Limited (UJPL). United Group: Undated (accessed on 15 June 2022)
MOEFCC (1997). ‘The Environmental Conservation Rules. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC)’: 27 August 1997
MOEFCC (2023). “The Environmental Conservation Rules”. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC): 5 March 2023
MOLJPA (1995). ‘Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995’. Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MOLJPA): 16 February 1995