The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved Shikalbaha 225-MW Duel-fuel Combined Cycle Power Plant project aimed at reducing power shortage and meeting growing demand of power in greater Chittagong region.
The Shikalbaha 225-megawatt project would be implemented on PDB’s land near the existing Shikalbaha Power Plant.
The approval came from a meeting held at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC chairperson, also Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in the chair.
After the meeting, Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam told reporters that a total of eight development projects including Shikalbaha 225-MW Duel-fuel Combined Cycle Power Plant will require Tk 7,882 crore for implementation.
“Of the total cost of Tk 7,882 crore, the government will provide Tk 4,814 crore from the national exchequer while the remaining Taka 3,068 crore will come as project assistance,” he added.
The Project would ensure uninterrupted and reliable power supply to Chittagong region. Four development partners in the Middle-East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and OPEC fund) will provide Tk 1,375 crore for the project.
The ECNEC meeting also approved another revised project to establish grid interconnection between Bangladesh and India for transfer of power involving an estimated cost of Tk 1,580 crore.
The project relating to power transfer to and from India would be implemented under the aegis of South Asian sub-regional co- operation.
The project includes construction of 31 km transmission line and two substations and acquisition and development of 113 acres of land in Bangladesh.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: Eastern Zone Integrated Irrigation Area Development Project (Tk 102 crore- GoB); Leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Growth Employment and Governance Project (Tk 572 crore-PA); Support to Development of Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park Project (Tk 222 crore, GoB-12 crore, PA 210 crore); Installation/Shifting of 132 KV, 33KV, 11KV underground and overhead line along Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover Project of DCC` (Tk 78 crore- GoB); Rangamati Science and Technology University Project (Tk 116 crore-GoB) and upgradation of Dhaka- Chittagong National Highway (2nd revised) Project (Tk 3,190 crore-GoB).
The meeting was attended by ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, Members of the Planning Commission, Secretaries and Officials concerned.banglanews24.com
