First shipment for Rampal power plant arrives from Indonesia

The first shipment of caol for the Rampal Power Plant in Khulna_ the southern division of Bangladesh_ has arrived from Indonesia_ paving the way for electricity production from October_ officials said on Friday.

Anwarul Azim_ deputy general manager of Rampal Power Plant hs said_ "Bangladesh flag-bearer 'MV Akij Heritage' docked at Chattogram port on July 31_ carrying 54_650 metric tonnes (MT) of coal imported from Indonesia."

From the port_ 18_650 metric tonnes were ferried to the terminal of the power plant on Thursday afternoon on three lighter vessels_ he said.

"From now on_ coal will be supplied to the plant on a regular basis as it will be operated experimentally from August to September. After that_ Rampal Power Plant will go into official power production from October_" he said.

Md Khanadakar Riazul Haque_ manager of Toggy Shipping that owns 'MV Akij Heritage'_ said_ The ship sailed from Tanjung port of Indonesia on July 20 and after unloading 18_650 MT of coal at Chattogram port_ it headed for Mongla port with the remaining 36_000 MT. It will reach the Harbouria-11 buoy of Mongla port by Friday evening."

According to Rampal Power Plant authorities_ Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL)_ a Indian state-owned company_ is responsible for the construction of the main infrastructure of the plant.

Work on the project began in 2010 with acquisition of land_ and official construction started in 2012.

Being built at an estimated cost of Tk 16 thousand crore_ the plant aims to produce a total of 1_320 MW of electricity in its two units (660 megawatts in each).