Solar power plant in private sector despite getting land

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Shanchita Shitu
Published : 03:00, Nov 19, 2018 | Updated : 03:00, Nov 19, 2018

Despite getting land, solar power plant project is being given to the private sector. So far, the government said that it could not be carried out due to lack of land and now it says that it can’t mobilise the construction cost. Several sections are questioning the roles of PDB and the power department.
In the past, PDB gave another power plant to the private sector saying there was no gas in Bhola, but soon afterwards, BAPEX discovered new gas blocks in Bhola.
The comparative rate of government power plant is lower than private power producers and therefore, for valid reasons, building of plants by the government is encouraged.
But PDB says they cannot get funds for the 60 megawatt centre in Rangunia. Meanwhile, PDB paid Tk. 174 crore to the district administrator which in turn gave the former the required land.
However, after getting the land, PDB is leasing it to private entrepreneurs.
“The biggest hurdle facing solar power plants is land; instead of giving it to private companies, PDB could have given it to other government power developing companies,” said a PDB official.
Meanwhile, PDB’s director of renewable energy, engineer Nazmul Huq, says: “the plant cannot be established due to financial crisis and hence the work is given to the private sector.”
The same has happened in the case of 55 megawatt solar plant in Gangachora and 100 megawatt plant in Sonagazi. In both cases, land has been purchased but PDB says it’s better to go for private entrepreneurs or IPP.

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