PDB signs pact with Chinese firm for Chittagong Power Plant

Dhaka: The Power Development Board and a Chinese company signed an agreement on Wednesday for installation of a 150 MW power plant at Shikalbaha in Chittagong.

The dual-fuel plant will come into operation by September 2009 as per the Tk 574.87 crore turnkey contract signed with the Sinohydro Corporation.
The representatives of PDB and Sinohydro signed the contract at the WAPDA Building.

The PDB’s chairman Shawkat Ali, Sinohydro’s vice-president Yang Gang and other high officials of the PDB were present on the occasion.

A press release of the PDB said that the power plant would be installed on the other side of the river Karnaphuli.

There are three power plants now operating in Shikalbaha at present.

The PDB expressed the hope that the new power plant would meet the growing demand for electricity and thus improve the power situation in the greater Chittagong region.

The PDB clarified its position with regard to one Mian Mohammad Tanzilur Rahman’s complaint to the government over the irregularities in the Shikalbaha tender process.

It claimed that Sinohydro was selected ‘as per the rules’ and no irregularities had taken place.
Sources in the Power Division said that intelligence agency personnel had found out that Tanzilur Rahman, an elderly Magbazar resident, was ‘misled’ by some quarters to complain to the government.