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Karnaphuli 230 MW (BPDB) Hydropower Plant

  • Jun 25
  • 6 min read

Current Status: Operation

(Source: Levanted)


Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant, also called Kaptai Hydropower Station or simply Kaptai Hydro, is a Kaplan Turbine-based power plant in hydroelectric facilities which is a type of hydro turbine that uses propellers to create energy from flowing water. They are a kind of renewable energy and are utilized in low-head, high-flow settings situated on Karnaphuli River in Kaptai under Kaptai Upazila in Rangamati District of Bangladesh (Location:22.5064, 92.2156). It is sponsored by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 60 years. The power plant started its commercial operation on 26 February 1962 and, as per schedule, it was to retire on 25 February 2022. But observing the plans of the Power Division, it seems that the power plant will run for around 100 years. In this case, it will retire in 2062.


Capacity

The installed (gross)  and derated (net) capacity of the power plant is 230 MW.


Context

In 1906, when the Karnafuli Hydropower Plant was first being considered, a quick reconnaissance was conducted. In 1923, a second investigation was conducted. Meanwhile, E.A. Moore Builders Limited suggested the project at Barkal, which is 65 km upstream of the current dam location at Kaptai, in 1946. A  site in Chilardak, roughly 45 kilometers upstream of Kaptai, was offered in 1950 by the Marz Rendal Vatten Consulting Engineers. Additionally, government engineers suggested Chitmoram in 1951, 11 km downstream of the current location. After all, in 1951, the present site was eventually selected for building under the direction of Khwaja Azimuddin, the irrigation department's then-chief engineer. 


Utah International Inc. was chosen as the general contractor. The dam's building process began in 1957. The dam, spillway, penstock, and two units of 40 MW Kaplan turbines and generators were installed in the power plant when the first phase of construction was finished in 1962. The third 50 MW unit was commissioned in August 1982. The fourth and fifth 50 MW units of turbines and generators were added in October 1988, increasing the overall generation capacity to 230 MW (JICA 2016)


The generators in the Karnafuli 230 MW Hydroelectric Power Station were commissioned between 1962 and 1988 and it is the only hydroelectric power station in Bangladesh. The power plant provides approximately 5% of Bangladesh's total electricity demand. 


Land acquisition

Karnafuli Hydropower Station, the only hydropower plant in the country is located at Kaptai, about 50 km away from the port city of Chittagong. The construction of the dam submerged 161,854 acres (655 km square) of area (Wikipedia). 


Finance

The project was financed by the East Pakistan Government at first but later by the United States, and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) (BPDB 2010). The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has expressed interest in financing the rehabilitation and modernization of Units 4 and 5 of the Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant. BPDB is currently preparing a detailed project proposal in consultation with JICA to secure funding for the overhaul of the aging turbine and generator systems  (TBS, 2026).


Sponsors

It is sponsored by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 60 years which later increased to 100 years.


Contractors

International Engineering Company (IEC) was hired in 1952 to build the dam after the plan was approved. In 1957, Utah International Inc., a different enterprise, joined the endeavor. The spillway was shut down in 1962 after construction was finished at the end of 1961 (Banglapedia). The power plant currently consists of five generating units developed in three phases. The turbines installed in all phases are supplied by Andritz Hydro. Karnafuli Phase I comprises one 50 MW unit equipped with an Andritz Hydro turbine and a generator supplied by GE Renewable Energy. Karnafuli Phase II consists of two 40 MW units equipped with Andritz Hydro turbines and generators supplied by GE Renewable Energy. Karnafuli Phase III includes two 50 MW units equipped with Andritz Hydro turbines, while Ercole Marelli Power supplied two generators, each with an apparent capacity of approximately 57.5 MVA (PT, 2024). 


Fuel Supply

The fuel of the hydroelectric power plant is the potential and kinetic energy of Karnafuli river’s water.


Power Generation

The project was inaugurated in early 1962, with two of its three planned generators putting 80 MW of electricity into the national power grid. The third generator of 50 MW started power generation in January 1982. Karnafuli Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III of Karnafuli have Andritz Hydro turbines with 50MW, 40MW, and 50MW capacity respectively (PT 2021). Currently, the dam has five Kaplan-type units with a combined capacity of 230 MW, providing approximately 5% of Bangladesh's total electricity demand (Zinia and Palash, 2022).  According to the BPDB Annual Report 2024–2025, the Hydropower Plant generated 957 GWh of net electricity during FY 2024–2025. This corresponds to an average annual output of approximately 109.25 MW and a Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 47.5%, based on the plant's installed capacity of 230 MW  (BPDP, 2025). According to BPDB officials, both 50 MW units have exceeded their scheduled overhaul periods, with Unit 4 last overhauled in June 2010 and Unit 5 in April 2011. Due to mechanical deterioration, the units are currently operating below their rated capacity and can generate only about 40 MW each, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately 20 MW of generation capacity. A technical inspection conducted by Toshiba between 23 February and 7 March 2024 identified operational risks associated with continued operation without major rehabilitation. Despite these concerns, the units remain in service due to their strategic importance to the national grid. The proposed rehabilitation programme is expected to cover both turbine and generator systems and aims to restore lost generation capacity and improve long-term operational reliability, with potential financial support from JICA (TBS, 2026).

 

Capacity Charge 

Based on estimated calculations, the annual capacity charge is approximately BDT 143.86 crore at a 60% Plant Load Factor (PLF). Under the plant's original 60-year operational tenure (1962–2022), the total capacity payment requirement is estimated at approximately BDT 8,631.6 crore. Although the plant was originally scheduled to retire in 2022, its operational life has effectively been extended by an additional 40 years. Assuming the same annual capacity charge, an estimated BDT 5,754.4 crore will be required over the extended 40-year period (2022–2062). Consequently, over its projected 100-year operational life, the total capacity payment requirement is estimated to reach approximately BDT 14,386 crore.


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 Karnafuli 230 MW hydroelectric power plant has brought about several negative consequences for the environment and local communities. Firstly, it has reduced biodiversity and blocked fish migration in the area, impacting the ecosystem. Additionally, the construction and operation of the plant have led to lower crop production and degraded water quality. Moreover, it disrupts water and sediment flow, affecting the overall health of the river. The displacement of communities due to the project has also been a significant social issue, while the release of greenhouse gases contributes to environmental concerns. Furthermore, the altered water conditions have increased the risk of water-borne diseases in the region. These combined effects highlight the complex challenges associated with hydroelectric power projects and the need for careful environmental and social considerations in such endeavors (Rahman 2016).


Criticism

The power project displaced around 100,000 people from their aboriginal homeland and encroached on 56,000 hectares of fertile land without rehabilitation measures. The dam's maximum capacity is 230 MW, affecting nearly 2% of the country's current electrical production. Despite the dam's initial capacity being sufficient, local residents were forced to pay an unaffordable price for electricity  (Zinia and Palash, 2022). According to the environmental conservation rule 2023 the project falls in the “Red” indicating it as a potentially harmful project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023). The power plant has recently focused on the prolonged delay in rehabilitating Units 4 and 5 despite repeated warnings regarding their deteriorating condition. The rehabilitation initiative has remained stalled for more than seven years due to procurement complications and repeated tender cancellations. As a result, both units are currently operating below their rated capacity, causing an estimated loss of around 20 MW of generation capacity. Technical inspections have identified structural weaknesses and operational risks, raising concerns among experts regarding the long-term reliability, efficiency and safety of Bangladesh's only hydropower plant. Critics argue that delays in modernization and maintenance have reduced the plant's performance and increased the risk of unexpected outages (TBS, 2026). 


References

 
 
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