Govt approves tariff proposal for country’s largest solar plant, per unit to cost Tk11

    Originally posted in The Business Standard on 30 August 2023

    The government today approved the tariff proposal for Bangladesh’s largest solar power plant that will be built in Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat. According to the proposal, the Power Division will buy electricity produced at the 300 MW solar power plant at a rate of Tk11.067 kilowatt per hour.

    The Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement approved the tariff proposal during a meeting presided over by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday (30 August).

    Power Division will buy electricity at this rate for 20 years. The total cost will be Tk10,762 crore.

    Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power Company will set up the solar power plant with an investment of $430 million.

    It will be built next to the Rampal coal-fired power plant.

    The land will be provided by the Bangladesh Electricity Development Board.

    Two private sector companies in Bangladesh – Comfit Composite Knit Ltd and Viyellatex Spinning Ltd – will also invest in the plant, which will run on the build-own-operate method.