The government has given the green light for 12 new solar power plants, to be developed by private companies, with a total capacity of 918 megawatts (MW).

According to a decision made yesterday by the Advisory Committee on Government Purchase, the power ministry will purchase electricity from these plants at an estimated cost of around Tk 40,000 crore over a 20-year period. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed chaired the meeting.

Unlike earlier projects under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act, 2010, which were awarded without competitive bidding, these new plants were selected through a competitive process.

Previously, tariffs for similar projects often exceeded Tk 13 per kilowatt-hour, but the competitive approach has lowered the rate to below Tk 10 per kilowatt-hour. The power ministry expects this to save the government about Tk 1,169 crore annually.

The projects will be implemented under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as part of the government’s strategy to diversify the energy mix and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

Key initiatives include:

A 200 MW plant in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, assigned to Confidence Power Holdings at Tk 9.45 per kWh.

A 150 MW project in Pabna awarded to a joint venture of Paramount Textile PLC and Paramount Holdings at Tk 9.62 per kWh.

A 10 MW plant in Sudharampur, Noakhali, granted to a joint venture of Maheen and Vidullanka at Tk 8.99 per kWh.

An 18 MW project in Hathazari, Chattogram, managed by FGL, FHL, and GBB, Dhaka, at Tk 9.98 per kWh.

A 25 MW plant in Moulvibazar given to Paramount Holdings and Paramount Textile at Tk 9.192 per kWh.

Other notable projects:

45 MW in Fatikchhari to the Karnaphuli-Infraco Consortium at Tk 9.32 per kWh.

100 MW in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, to Confidence Power Bogra Unit-2 at Tk 9.86 per kWh.

100 MW in Ramu to a joint venture of China Northeast Electric Power Engineering & Services and BM Star Trade at Tk 7.96 per kWh.

50 MW in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, to Concord Pragatee Consortium at Tk 10.07 per kWh.

50 MW in Bibiyana, Sylhet, to Paramount Holdings and Paramount Textile at Tk 9.91 per kWh.

100 MW in Bagerhat, Mongla, to Confidence Power Bogura Unit-2 and Asian Entech Power Corporation at Tk 9.86 per kWh.

70 MW in Hemayetpur, Pabna, to Paramount Holdings and Paramount Textile at Tk 9.63 per kWh.

In addition, the pre-approved tariff for a 210 MW combined-cycle power plant in Mymensingh was revised downward from Tk 6.35 per kWh to Tk 5.34 per kWh.

The committee also approved the import of 50,000 tonnes of rice from India-based Nutriagro Overseas at $351.49 per tonne, and a cargo LNG import from TotalEnergies Gas & Power, UK, at $10.37 per MMBTU.