The Payra thermal power plant in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali has temporarily ceased operations to conduct essential maintenance and facilitate the test commissioning of a neighboring power facility. The 1,320-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station’s first unit, which has a capacity of 660 MW, was shut down for a week starting December 16, while the second unit was previously taken offline on 9th November for major maintenance expected to last three months.
Shah Abdul Mawla, project officer of the Payra power plant, explained that the shutdown aims to allow for necessary testing of the transmission lines for the newly constructed RNPL power plant, operated by RPCL- NORINCO International Power Limited (RNPL). This new facility, located just two kilometers north of the Payra plant, is anticipated to begin trial production in January.
The RNPL plant’s construction, which began in 2019 at a cost of approximately $2.5 billion, is strategically positioned along the banks of the Ramnabad River. It is a joint venture between Bangladesh’s Rural Power Company Limited and China’s Norinco International Cooperation Limited, with both parties holding equal shares.
In order to facilitate the test commissioning of the RNPL plant, the transmission lines from the Payra power plant have been temporarily deactivated. Selim Bhuiyan, managing director of RNPL, noted that each of the plant’s two units can generate up to 660 MW of electricity. The commissioning process is expected to take around 75 days, with the first unit projected to be operational by early March, followed by the second unit by the end of May.
Bhuiyan emphasised that to meet the energy demands of the new plant, approximately 12,000 tonnes of coal will be required daily once operations commence. The RNPL has already secured an agreement with Singaporean company Yantai for the supply of 1 million tonnes of coal, with 128,000 tonnes already delivered and more expected in January.
In an effort to reduce environmental impact, the RNPL will utilise high-quality coal sourced from Indonesia, ensuring greater electricity generation with lower coal consumption compared to traditional power plants. Bhuiyan also highlighted that the production costs at the new facility are expected to be competitive, potentially yielding an average electricity price of around Taka 9.85 per unit, which is lower than that of other thermal power plants in the region.
As the RMG sector anticipates the resumption of power generation, stakeholders remain hopeful that the commissioning of the RNPL plant will enhance the stability and reliability of electricity supply, thereby supporting the industry’s growth and sustainability in the coming months.
