Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Pvt Ltd (BIFPC) has issued the notice to proceed (NTP) to EPC contractor Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd for the Maitree super thermal power project in Bangladesh. With this, the mega $1.5-billion order placed on BHEL in July 2016 has taken off. This incidentally is the largest international power project order won by BHEL.
BIFPC is an equal joint venture between NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board. The Maitree power project, equipped with two units of 660-mw each, is located at Rampal Upazila in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh.
BHEL was selected through an international open bidding process. The project is being financed to the extent of $1.6 billion by Exim Bank of India. The loan agreement was signed in March this year and financial closure was attained in April.
The Maitree super thermal power project is the first project being developed by BIFPCL and it is one of the fast track projects identified by the government of Bangladesh. The project is a symbol of successful cooperation between India and Bangladesh for development of Bangladesh’s power sector.
BHEL’s scope of work in the project includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of 2×660-mw thermal sets with ultra-supercritical parameters on turnkey basis. The scope also includes setting up of a jetty and a river-water intake system. In order to meet stringent environmental norms, BHEL shall also install a flue-gas desulphurization (FGD) plant and dry-bottom ash handling system.
The key equipment for the project will be manufactured at BHEL’s Trichy, Haridwar, Hyderabad, Ranipet, Bhopal, Bangalore and Jhansi plants, while the company’s Power Sector Construction division will be responsible for construction and installation activities at site.
BHEL has had a long association with Bangladesh’s power sector. The PSU engineering firm’s first major project in that country was the 100-mw Baghabari gas turbine power project that was commissioned in 2001. Subsequently, BHEL has constructed the 2×120-mw Siddhirganj gas-based power project. It has also set up the 220kV Baghabari and Ishurdi substations in Bangladesh.