The first mega coal-fired, 1,320 MW electricity generation capacity Payra Power Plant is fully ready to operate, and finally goes into commercial operation next week, officials said.

The second unit of the plant has attained its generation capacity of 660 MW over the past three months, and is now ready for commercial operation. However, the first unit of the same capacity started its test run on January, 13. Then on May 14, it started commercial generation.

Bangladesh-China Power Company Ltd (BCPCL), a joint venture of Bangladesh’s North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL) and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), constructed the power plant of two units at Dhankhali of Kalapara in Patuakhali.

An official said ‘a meeting was held with Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus and representatives of BPDB, PGCB and BCPCL on Tuesday night to finalize the COD (commercial operation date) for the power plant.

To this end, a committee will be formed soon and after its recommendation, the power plant will go commercially to the national grid. Hopefully, all procedures will be completed this month.’    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to officially inaugurate the power plant.

Bangladesh enters the Ultra SuperCritical Club with the launch of the coal-fired power plant, making the country the 7th nation in Asia to build such a power plant. India has a power plant in South Asia. There are also power plants of Ultra SuperCritical Technology in China, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia in Asia. Except for  Bangladesh and China, other countries do not use covered coal yards in Ultra SuperCritical Technology based power plants.

Officials said the power from the Payra Power Plant will be now transmitted to the southern region of the country by shutting down some costly liquid fuel-fired generation units in Khulna and its adjoining districts.

An official of NWPGCL said ultra supercritical technology can generate more electricity by burning less coal. This technology does not pollute the environment. Modern technology has been used in pollution control.

He added that the coal yard of the Payra Power Plant is covered. Apart from Bangladesh, only China in Asia uses such coal yards. There is no such coal yard also in Japan. Sulfur dioxide emissions from the Payra Power Plant are only 60 to 70 mg. On the other hand, the World Bank's prescribed maximum emission limit is 200 mg.

Although the generation efficiency is two percent higher than that of supercritical, the cost of ultra supercritical technology is much higher. For this reason, many countries are not interested in building ultra supercritical power plants.

The power plant was built with financial support from China’s Exim Bank. The Framework Financial Agreement of USD 1.984 billion for the power plant between the CEXIM and BCPCL was signed on October 14, 2016.