Dhaka: The government approved power purchase proposals from three major combined cycle power plants at re-determined levelized tariffs during the 5th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase for the year. The meeting took place at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, who also briefed reporters afterward.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the committee endorsed the procurement of electricity from Ashuganj 450 MW Combined Cycle (South) Power Plant at a tariff of US Cents 4.6934 per kilowatt hour, with an estimated expenditure of Taka 23,880.02 crore. Additionally, it approved power purchase from the Siddhirganj 335 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, constructed by EGCB, at a tariff of US Cents 4.4140 per kilowatt hour, involving an estimated cost of Taka 21,675.04 crore. Furthermore, the proposal to procure electricity from the Haripur 412 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at a tariff of US Cents 3.8753 per kilowatt hour, costing Taka 19,864.13 crore, was also recommended.
Officials indicated that the revised tariffs are expected to contribute to maintaining stability in the national power grid while optimizing generation costs.
The meeting also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to hire UNICEF for a World Bank-financed project aimed at improving pre-primary and primary education for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, and Bhasan Char, at a cost of Taka 203.87 crore. Furthermore, the committee approved a proposal from the Ministry of Land to procure services for the operation, development, and maintenance of the Digital Land Record Management System (DLRMS) at a cost of Taka 99.44 crore from Mysoft BD Limited. In addition, it endorsed the appointment of international law firm White and Case LLP to provide legal services for defending the government in an ICSID arbitration case.