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Chandpur 150 MW (BPDB) DFG Power Plant

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Current Status: Operation

(Source: Sarabangla)


Chandpur 150 MW Gas Power Plant, also known as Chandpur CC Power Station, or Chandpur Peaking Power Plant, is a Combined Cycle (CC) power plant situated at Balier Maath, Truck Road under Chandpur Sadar Upazila in Chandpur District of Bangladesh (Location: 23.2217, 90.6683). It is sponsored by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 25 years. The power plant started its commercial operation on 3 March 2012 and, as per schedule, it will retire on 2 March 2037.


Capacity

The installed (gross) and derated (net) capacity of the power plant is 150 MW and 163 MW respectively.


Context

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved this power project in 2001 but due to the ending of the term of the 4-parties alliance  in July of that year the progress was stopped (DS, 2010a). On November 3, 2009, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the Chandpur 150 Megawatt Combined Cycle Power Project, costing around BDT 1,006 crore, more than three times the initial estimate. Previously, the Chinese company Harbin won the projected deal at USD 45.20 million but was canceled due to increased costs during the caretaker government's tenure, with Harbin seeking USD $16 million after signing (DS, 2009). Then the Power Development Board (PDB) signed a contract for the Chandpur 150 mw gas-fired combined cycle power project with China Chenga Engineering Co (CCEC) on 08 February 2010 (DS, 2010). 


After crawling for about a decade the foundation stone for the Power Plant laid (DS, 2010a). Though the construction was supposed to be finished before January 2012 (FE, 2012), the power plant was estimated to complete the construction by June (Asian Power, 2012). The power plant started production in November 2012 after a 10-month delay (DT, 2023).

The plant came into production on 10 March 2024 after a 14-month closure since December 2022; the 100 MW unit had been supplying 50 MW due to the ongoing gas crisis, while the other 50 MW unit could not be started. On 5 April 2024, a fire caused by oil leakage in the generator bearings halted production again; power generation resumed on 14 May 2024 with 50 MW from the 100 MW unit, with the plant manager confirming that full output remained contingent on improved gas supply (TBS, 2024).

The power plant was running well till December last year. Due to the maintenance of the power plant, the first 50 MW of the power plant stopped production on December 3, 2022, and the remaining 100 MW on December 5, 2022, according to the center's engineering department. On February 7 of this year, the decision was made to turn on the 100 MW unit following 50 days of repairs and upkeep. However, because some of the pieces are broken, it has been turned off. (Ittefaq, 2023).


The power plant was closed since December 2022 due to lack of renovation and maintenance, has reopened after one year and two months. However, due to gas shortage, the center is not able to produce 100% electricity now. At present 50 MW electricity is being connected to the national grid (Amader Somoy, 2024).


Land Acquisition

The power plant acquires a land of 6.2 acres at Balier Maath, Truck Road under Chandpur Sadar Upazila in Chandpur District of Bangladesh (according to Google Earth).


Finance

The project will be constructed at a cost of BDT 1200 Crore, of which 55% will come from external sources and the rest 45% from the government resources (Asian Power, 45678N0M,2012).


Sponsor

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


Contractors

Chinese construction company Chengda Engineering Company worked as the contractors of this power plant established in Balur Math, close to Chandpur town.


Fuel Supply

The power plant uses natural gas from the Bakhrabad Gas field, Comilla.

 

Power Generation

The installed capacity is 163 MW gross net. According to the BPDB daily generation data in 23-24 the power plan produced no electricity.


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 1997 (superseded by ECR 2023) (MOEFCC 1997). But, to date, no IEE or EIA report has been conducted for the power plant. Moreover, DFG Combustion produces air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants can contribute to smog formation, respiratory issues, and other health problems.


Criticism

The Chandpur 150 Megawatt Power Plant in Bangladesh is experienced issues due to excessive sand particles in the air, sourced from a sand business along the Dakatia River. The plant's 1,500 air filters reach their maximum capacity caused power generation to be halted for two to three days (DTa, 2013). 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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