The first unit of 1320 MW Payra coal-fired power plant went into test operation on Monday.
A power division official said the plant is now generating 100MW power and the production will go up to 660MW when it will go into full operation.
The unit, put into operation utilising the 400 KV Payra-Gopalganj power transmission, was commissioned on December 31 for evacuating power from the power plant, said the official.
The plant is being developed by Bangladesh China Power Company (BCPCL); a 50:50 joint venture between China National Machinery Import and Export (CMC) and Bangladesh’s state-owned North-West Power Generation Company (NWPGCL).
The $2bn Payra power project is financed through 30 per cent equity investment provided by BCPCL partners and 70 percent debt provided through loan from Chinese banks led by Chinese Export Import (Exim) Bank.
The power plant will consist of two 660MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power generating units.
The coal requirement for the plant is estimated to be 4.12 million tonnes per year (Mt/y), which will be imported from Indonesia, China and Australia.
