Govt to float open tender for setting up 10 solar power plants next week

The government has decided to float tenders next week for the construction of more than 10 solar power plants aimed at reaching Net Zero Emissions by 2050.

“Efforts are underway to float tender next week for installation of over 10 solar power plants having a total generation capacity of 500MW,” Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Engineer Md Rezaul Karim said, reports BSS.

He said tender documents have already been prepared, adding, “The government has decided to go for open tender bidding so that interested firms can take part in the bidding properly.”

“There is no scope for negotiation about the bidding process and the lowest bidder will get the award for construction of solar power plants,” he added.

Joint Secretary (Renewable Energy) of Power Division Amjed Hossain said the ministry prepared everything and sent all tender documents to BPDB for finalising and floating tenders for the solar power plants.

According to the BPDB, the government has decided to construct 10 solar power plants having 50MW each in 10 places in the country.

During the previous government, the decision for the construction of solar power plants was made under the Quick Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, 2010 (Amendment 2021) and there were allegations that power plant construction work was given to companies at higher rate.

After coming to power, the interim government cancelled 40 projects undertaken by the previous government.

Earlier, Energy Adviser to the interim government Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan several times mentioned that no power plant will be constructed without open tender from now on.

Later, the BPDB took the initiative to invite tenders for the construction of solar power plants in 10 places in the country through the open tender method.

According to the Power Cell, the 10 solar power plants will be built at Panchagarh, Ishwardi, Gopalganj, Bhaluka, Cox's Bazar, Chakoria, Pirganj, Faridpur, Rajbari and Nilphamari near Jaldhaka.

The power cell sources said that solar power projects will be installed near grid sub-stations for easy transmission of electricity to the national grid.

Energy experts said that the price of solar panels in the current international market is decreasing at a significant rate. Now the cost of the panel is only 9 cents per watt. It was 25 to 30 cents 10 years ago during the previous government.

The cost of solar power plant construction will be halved due to falling panel prices, they said, adding that building solar power plants is now considered profitable for this reason. Because, once installed, there is no need to buy fuel for such a power plant.