The Payra Thermal Power Plant has officially joined the national grid after starting electricity production on a test-basis.

The plant that synchronised with the national grid on Monday (Jan 13) is currently supplying 100 megawatts of electricity.

“The plant has started power production successfully. Production will be increased in phases,” said Bangladesh-China Power Company (BPCL) Chief Executive Officer AM Khorshedul Alam.

He added that the thermal plant will be inaugurated after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returns from the United Arab Emirates.

Project Director Shah Abdul Mowla said that production will be shut down in the evening and slowly increased.

The coal-fired power plant is the largest in the country and will supply 1,320 MW of electricity to the national grid.

State-run North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) jointly constructed the plant.

Construction of the plant started on Mar 30, 2016 with $ 2 billion dollar investment with assistance from China’s Exim Bank.