Bangladesh issues tender to develop up to 60 MW of solar

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) – responsible for planning and developing the country’s power infrastructure and operating much of its power generation facilities – has issued a tender for the construction of several grid-tied solar plants, with a combined capacity of 50-60 MW.

The public body said the selected developer will operate on a build, own, operate basis for 20 years on BPDB land in Rangunia, Chittagong in southeastern Bangladesh, near the Chandraghona substation. The selected bidder, the BPDB added, will have to arrange financing. The deadline for the submission of bids is on March 14.

Another tender, for 100 MW of large-scale solar, was launched by state-owned utility the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh – which is controlled by the BPDP – in November. The project is part of the utility’s plan to diversify its mix of power generation assets, which currently consist of three thermal power plants with a total capacity of some 840 MW.

Later in December Dipal C Barua, president of the Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association, told pv magazine the approval of a rising number of solar plants demonstrated confidence in renewables by the private sector and government is gradually increasing. At the time, the government had approved proposals for five solar based projects, which will generate 227 MW of electricity.