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    • Jun 19
    • 4 min read

Thakurgaon 50 MW (RZ Power) HSD Power Plant

Updated: Sep 22

Current Status: Retired

Representational Picture: (MAN)



Thakurgaon 50 MW Diesel Power Plant, also known as RZ Thakurgaon Power Plant, is a reciprocating engine-based power plant situated in Munshirhat under Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila in Thakurgaon District of Bangladesh (Location: 26.0431, 88.4550). It is sponsored by RZ Power Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Rahimafrooz Limited, as a Rental Power Plant (RPP) for three years. The sponsor declared its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 2 August 2010, and, as per schedule, it was to retire on 1 August 2013. However, the power plant retired on 1 August 2016 after six years of operation. 


Capacity

The installed (gross) and derated (net)  capacity of the power plant is 47 MW and 40 MW respectively.


Context

The power plant is sponsored by RZ Power Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Rahimafrooz Limited. The plant started commercial operation from 2 August 2010. Rahim Afrooz Group's Thakurgaon 50 MW power plant experienced significant downtime throughout the fiscal year 2016-17, resulting in a mere 9 percent operational efficiency based on its 36.96 percent capacity. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) incurred an expenditure of BDT 82 crore Tk for the maintenance and operation of the plant  (Corporate sangbad, 2018). In October 2013, the Power Division decided to extend the tenure of the power plant at a reduced price of electricity (DT 2013). The actual net energy generation of the power plant is 29.94 gWh. Annual plant load factor 8.55%. The efficiency of the power plant is 36.69% in the the fiscal year 2016-17 (BPDB 2016-17).


Land Acquisition

According to google map thel covered area of this power is probably 0.53 acre.


Finance

The budget of this project was 12 million dollar.

 

Sponsor

This power plant is sponsored by RZ Power Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Rahimafrooz Limited.


Contractor


Fuel Supply

Diesel was used as fuel for this power plant and RZ company have took the responsibility to arrange the fuel.


Power Generation

The  Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the power plant was 2 August 2010 (BPDB 2010). According to the PPA, BPDB is liable to purchase electricity from the power plant for three years after COD. Anr the power generation


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 fuel employed in electricity generation emits detrimental pollutants like CO2, NOx, CO, VOCs, and PM, which can have adverse effects on human health and exacerbate air pollution. It is imperative to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this power plant. But, to date, no IEE or EIA report has been conducted for the power plant. 


Criticism

The project experienced a two-month delay attributable to significant challenges, including the late delivery of certain plant equipment and difficulties in transporting the equipment to the site caused by adverse weather conditions. RZ Power provided the PDB with a compensation of BDT 5.25 Tk crore as a penalty for the delay (The Daily Star ,2010). According to the environmental conservation rule 2023 the project falls in the “Orange” indicating it as a moderate harmful project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023).


Capacity Charge

The total generation of the power plant in its lifetime was 455.18 gWh. Total cost of the power plant was 1002.23 crore BDT, Per unit average cost of generation was 22.55. Total capacity charge paid for the power plant is BDT 294.26 Crore Tk.

Year

Generation (gWh)

Total Cost (crore BDT)

Unit Cost (avg BDT)

Capacity (crore BDT)

FY 2016-2017

29.94

62.01

20.71

11.07

FY 2015-2016

62.78

136.15

21.69

25.58

FY 2014-2015

45.73

111.75

24.44

30.45

FY 2013-2014

61.35

146.17

23.82

37.18

FY 2012-2013

65.09

176.23

27.07

66.64

FY 2011-2012

76.95

179.18

23.29

66.42

FY 2010-2011

113.34

190.74

16.83

56.92

Total

455.18

1002.23

22.55

294.2

References

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