Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally open the country's biggest Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant at Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali as well as declare 100 percent electrification across the country as the first South Asian nation tomorrow (Monday). "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will come at Kalapara tomorrow, open this power plant and declare cent percent electrification across the country as every house has been illuminated with the electricity," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told reporters on the power plant premises this afternoon. It was a big challenge for "all of us" to implement such an ultra-modern largest project in the country for the first time in the last 50 years, he said, adding that this is an Ultra Supercritical Technology power plant. "We used the Ultra Supercritical Technology in building the coal-fired power plant as the third country in South Asia and 11th across the world," he said, adding that Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited (BCPCL) built the power plant. The first 660 MW unit of the power plant went into commercial operation in May 2020, utilising the 400 kv Payra-Gopalganj Power Transmission while the second one started production in December last year. Barishal Divisional Commissioner Md Amin Ul Ahsan said centering Payra 1320MW Thermal Power Plant near the Payra Seaport, the economic activities of the people in this area have already been accelerated. Noting that the activities of setting up an economic zone in the area, he said site has already been selected and the process of land acquisition is underway, since the government has a huge plan centering the southern part of the country. Apart from the 1320MW thermal power plant, the commissioner said, the construction work of another power plant is underway while the government has also a plan to build a 1320MW power plant and a solar system power plant in Patuakhali. "This region would be turned into a power hub by the next five to ten years," he added. Talking to reporters on the power plant premises, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northwest Power Generation Company and BCPCL Managing Director (MD) AM Khurshedul Alam said the coal-fired 1320 MW power plant has been built using the ultra-supercritical technology aiming at protecting the environment. Noting that the environment is polluted by sulfur, nitrogen and suspended materials, he said his company is controlling the three elements while they are bearing additional 5 percent to 7 percent cost to this end.  This coal-fueled power plant, generally known as baseload power plant that operates continuously round the clock, has been built as the coal is till now a cheapest fuel, he said, adding, "Before starting the construction work, the honorable Prime Minister herself chose this site". Once the country's largest power plant goes in operation in full swing, the BCPCL official said, it will be possible to keep electricity prices at a tolerable level. Source: BSS AH

After changing its direction the cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ is heading towards the Sundarbans coast. For that reason the Meteorological Directorate has asked Mongla and Payra seaports to hoist great danger signal number 10. Meteorologist AKM Ruhul Quddus of the meteorological directorate delivered the information through a notice (serial no. 31) served at 6 am. The notice said, at 6 am the cyclonic storm Amphan was situated 565 kilometers south-west of Chattogram seaport, 545 kilometers south-west of Cox’s Bazar, 390 kilometers south-west of Mongla seaport and 410 kilometers south-west of Payra seaport. Advancing towards north-north-east direction it can pass through the India’s West Bengal and Bangladesh coastal areas in the evening (Wednesday). The notice also said, maximum sustained wind speed within 85 kms of the cyclone centre is about 200 kph rising to 220 kph in gusts/squalls. The sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre. Mongla and Payra posrts are asked to hoist great danger signal number 10 in place of singnal number 7. Coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirozpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laksmipur, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will be under coverage of great danger signal number 10. Chattogram seaports and Cox’s Bazar are asked to hoist danger signal number 6.Coastal districts of Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and the nearest islands and chars will be under coverage of signal number 6. Under the influence of the cyclone, low lying areas in coastal districts and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surges climbing 10-15 feet above the normal astronomical tide. All the fishing boats and trawlers have been advised not to venture into the deep sea. AH

The first unit (660 MW) of newly-constructed Payra coal-fired power plant went into operation on Sunday, utilizing the recently-commissioned 400 kV Payra–Gopalganj power transmission. “We’ve successfully commissioned the first unit of the 1320 MW power plant as per our schedule around 12 noon,” a top official at the North West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL) told UNB. The Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited (BCPCL), a special joint venture company of Bangladesh’s state-owned NWPGCL and China’s state-owned China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), has been constructing the power plant involving about $2 billion as part of understanding between Dhaka and Beijing. Initially, the power plant is generating 10 MW power and the production will go up to 660 MW at the final stage of generation, said the NWPGCL official. Earlier, the 400 kV Payra–Gopalganj power transmission line was commissioned on December 31 aiming to evacuate electricity from the new power plant. The first unit of the Payra power plant, which was conducting test run on completion of construction, was waiting for this new transmission line to start its operation. Officials said this has been the very first power plant to be run through imported coal, and the first consignment of coal reached the country in September 20 last by a large ship from Indonesia. “Now, we’ve 45 days’ stock of imported coal in our storage. So, the power plant will hopefully run continuously,” said the NWPGCL official adding that there is an import arrangement to bring required coal from Indonesia.   Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited (BCPCL) hopes the second unit of the plant will be able to start operation by June next as transmission facilities are being prepared. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh raised the storm danger signal as cyclone ‘Bulbul’ intensified further and is likely to cross West Bengal-Khulna coast-- near the Sundarbans-- by Saturday evening.  “The coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, and Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number 10,” the Met Office said in a special bulletin. “The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower the danger signal number 7 and hoist great danger signal number 10,” said the special bulletin. The low-lying areas of the coastal districts are “likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above the normal astronomical tide” because of the fast-approaching cyclone. The maritime port of Chattogram was “advised to lower danger signal number 6 and hoist great danger signal number 9”, while the maritime port of Cox’s Bazar was advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number 4. The coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal No 9. At 12pm, ‘Bulbul’ was about 280kmsouthwest of Mongla port, 315km southwest of Payra port, 475km southwest of Chattogram port, and 470km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port. The maximum sustained wind speed within 74kms of the very severe cyclone centre is about 130kph, rising to 150kph. It may cross West Bengal-Khulna coast near the Sundarbans by the evening, the Met Office said. Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, and Bagerhat are likely to experience wind speed up to 120kph with heavy to very heavy rainfall during the passage of the storm.  Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has taken all-out preparations to tackle the approaching severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’.  Earlier on Friday night, all the launch services were suspended amid the impending severe cyclone. According to the Bangladesh Navy, five ships have been ready at Khulna BNS Titumir for emergency relief and rescue operations in Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, and Barguna. Source: UNB AH

Danger signal number 6 has been imposed for Chattogram seaport due to the effect of cyclone ‘Bulbul’ created in Bay of Bengal. Meanwhile Mongla and Payra seaports have been asked to hoist danger signal number 7. Meteorologist Md. Abul Kalam Mallik of the meteorological directorate issued the alert on Friday evening. Earlier Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports were asked to hoist local cautionary signal number 4. The met office said, cyclone ‘Bulbul’ is turning into a severe cyclonic storm. At the beginning the wind speed of the cyclone was 80-90 kilometers per hours. But from Friday noon its pace is increasing. ‘Bulbul’ has turned into a category two cyclonic storm. It may hit with wind speed of 130 kilometers per hour. On the other hand Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended movement of all types of water transport in the internal waterways due to the cyclone ‘Bulbul’. AH  

To bring the situation normal in Payra thermal power plant 15 days leave from Sunday for Bangladeshi workers has been declared. The authority has also declared to pay their dues within three days. The Chinese workers have begun their work in a short scale from Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Patuakhali Md. Matiul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the information. He said to Rtv online, following the infighting between Bangladesh and Chinese workers on Tuesday huge damage was done in the power plant. It will require 12 to 15 days to repair the damages. This type of work cannot be performed by Bangladeshi workers. Only Chinese workers can do that. In fact for this reason leave was given to the Bangladeshi workers. The Payra thermal power plant authority has decided to pay the dues of the workers. AH

A deadlock situation is prevailing in the activities of Payra thermal power plant in Patuakhali following phases of infighting, vandalism, looting and casualties between Bangladeshi and Chinese workers. All the activities were stalled in the power plant on the fourth consecutive day. The authority cannot tell specifically when the activities will resume. On the other hand 12 Bangladeshi workers who were arrested from Keraniganj in Dhaka were brought to Kalapara police station. Later they were sent to jail custody through the court. Earlier, four workers arrested from the power plant adjacent areas were sent to jail custody through court on Friday. With this total 16 people were arrested in connection with the incidents. Officer in Charge of Kalapara police station Monirul Islam confirmed the information. In this regard Deputy Commissioner of Patuakhali Matiul Islam Chowdhury told Rtv online, activities of Payra thermal power plant are stalled at the moment. The activities cannot be started due to theft of electronic materials like laptops. Efforts are going on to start the activities. Mentionable, on Tuesday while working Bangladesh worker Sabindra Das died at Kalapara thermal power plant. But there was an allegation that the Chinese workers tried to hide the dead body of Sabindra. This turned the local workers angry. Following that chase and counter chase happened and the whole power plant area turned into a battle field. Following that incident a Chinese worker died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital while undergoing treatment. The situation turned more critical following that incident. As the situation turned out of control of the authority RAB, police and BGB were deployed in the power plant area. Later Security Director of the Chinese company filed two separate cases in connection with the incident with Kalapara police station where one thousand two hundred people were made accused. All the accused were unidentified. At present police and RAB are deployed in the power plant area and the administration is on alert. AH