Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in a meeting on Wednesday approved a number of proposals from the power and energy divisions including the import of refined petroleum, LNG and purchase power from solar power plants.

As per the proposals, state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation will import 1.85 million (18.50 lakh)  tonnes of refined petroleum from state-owned suppliers of different countries on the G2G basis in the first half (January-December) of 2024). 

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division placed the proposal on behalf of the BPC while Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtually held meeting.   

The BPC will need to spend Tk 15082.86 crore to import the entire bulk petroleum.

As per another proposal, approved by the committee, the state-owned Petrobangla will import 33.60 lakh MMBtu of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Excelerate Energy LP, USA at a cost of Tk 542.26 crore under the Speedy Increasing of Power and Energy Supply Act (special provision) 2021.

Some four proposals, placed by the Power Division, also received approval of the CCGP.

As per the approved proposals, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) received approval for purchasing electricity from a 240 MW (AC) solar power plant to be set up in Trishal Upazila of Mymensingh district by the Joint Venture of (1) Energon Renewables BD Ltd; and (ii) PWR Energy Trading LLC.

The BPDB will pay to the private sponsor approximately Tk 8,553.60 crore over the period of 20m years at an electricity tariff rate of Tk 10.995 per kilowatt hour.

The BPDB will purchase electricity from a 30 MW (AC) solar power plant to be set up in Chakaria Upazila of Cox's Bazar district.

The Consortium of (1) DH Euro Hitech Co. Ltd, South Korea; and (ii) NewTech Solar Energy BD Ltd, Bangladesh Company will purchase electricity from the plant over period of 20 years spending approximately Tk 172.80 crore where tariff was fixed at Tk 11.03 per kWh.

The BPDB will purchase power from a 50 MW (AC) solar power plant to be set up in Sadar Upazila of Cox's Bazar district by Joules Power Ltd.

The BPDB will spend about Tk 1,771.20 crore over the period of 20 years to get electricity at a tariff rate of Tk 10.94 per kilowatt hour.

 A 100 MW (AC) solar power plant will be set up in Mongla Upazila of Bagerhat by the Consortium of (1) Asian Entech Power Corporation Ltd – and (2) Axia Power Holdings B.V. from which the BPDB will buy electricity over the period of 20 years spending about Tk 3,564 crore.

The tariff of the plant was set at Tk 10.99 per kilowatt.