Construction of five new power plants having a total generation capacity of 716 megawatts (MWs) under the private sector in Chittagong is under process.
Power Development Board (PDB) sources said preparatory work on the proposed projects has been completed. The PDB is scheduled to supervise the implementation of the plants.
The sources said the projects included one 300-MW plant beside Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Factory at Anowara, one 116-MW plant at Sikalbaha under Patiya, two power plants with 100-MW generation capacity each at Sikalbaha under Karnaphuli thana on south bank of river Karnaphuli in the port city.
Meanwhile, another proposed 100-MW plant at Julda in Patiya upazila is in the pipeline.
Project director of the under construction 300-MW PDB plant at Anowara Engr Golam Haider Talukder told the news agency that United Group has taken initiative to implement the power project .
He said the first phase work on the project is progressing fast and it is expected that the project will be completed by 2019.
He further disclosed that all equipments for this project will be imported from Finland very shortly.
Meanwhile, the project director of 116-MW Sikalbaha plant Engr Kamruddin Ahmed said two other power plants with the generation capacity of 100-MW each will also be built in the same area.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the Sikalbaha 225-MW combined cycle power plant in December last. The premier inaugurated this cycling power plant simultaneously with other 3 power plants across the country through video conferencing.
PDB Chief Engineer Probir Kumar Sen said the work on the dual fuel run 225-MW Sikalbaha combined cycling plant began in 2015 while electricity production at the project started from November 6 last.
"After implementation of these power projects there will be no load-shedding in the region," he added.
He said a total of Tk 2,018 crore with foreign assistance of Tk 1375 crore was spent for this plant.
On the other hand, a 100-MW dual fuel run rental power plant (RPP) was constructed at Julda, Patiya in 2012 over 20 acres of land under a joint venture of local investor - Ekron Infrastructural Ltd and Caterpillar Company of Germany, reports BSS.
Beside the existing RPP, another 100-MW plant is going to be built, the PDB sources said.