Rampal:Dhaka The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is set to invite tenders for the construction of a 442-megawatt (MW) solar power plant at Rampal. This initiative is part of the government's efforts to boost renewable energy generation in the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim announced that the tender documents are being prepared for the Rampal solar project. The grid-connected project, having received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), is expected to commence construction next year, with an operational target set for June 2029. This solar power plant will complement the existing 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal.
The project will be erected on 918.50 acres of land in Block-B of Rampal, which has already been acquired and developed by BPDB. Upon completion, it will supply 442 MW of green electricity to the Khulna division, reducing both subsidies and reliance on fossil fuels. The project, estimated to cost Tk 2,498.08 crore, includes an eight-hour battery storage system and aims to diversify the country's energy mix while reducing carbon emissions.
The BPDB will fund Tk 374.71 crore, with the remaining Tk 2,123.37 crore coming from the Power Sector Development Fund (PSDF) at an interest rate of 2 percent. The solar plant is expected to offer a competitive tariff of Tk 6.18 per unit. The new infrastructure will connect to the national grid via a 230-kilovolt transmission system.
The project aligns with Bangladesh's long-term energy security goals and sustainable development targets, aiming to generate 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It also contributes to reducing environmental pressure on the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. The feasibility study conducted by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC) deemed the project viable and it has been included in the Annual Development Programme for fiscal year 2026-27.
The government's broader initiative includes expanding rooftop solar power and developing a network of entrepreneurs and service providers under the National Renewable Energy programme.