Govt inks deal to set up 42.5MW waste-to-energy plant in Dhaka

The government has signed an agreement with a Chinese company to set up a 42.5MW waste-to-energy power plant in Dhaka.

The tripartite agreement was signed between the Power Division, the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and the Dhaka North City Corporation on Wednesday.

CMEC will implement the power plant in Amin Bazar under the DNCC at an estimated cost of about Tk 15,325crore.

The plant will require 3,000 tonnes of waste every day to generate electricity for Tk 18.30 per unit.

“Bangladesh has stepped into a new era through this agreement,” Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Tajul Islam said who was the chief guest at the agreement signing ceremony.

This plan will greatly reduce the crisis of wastage management in the city, he said.

The plant will be commissioned within 18 months of the commencement of construction.

The Chinese company will set up the plant, operate and maintain the plant at its own responsibility.

The City Corporation will provide the necessary land and regular waste. The Power Division will purchase the electricity.

The city corporations and municipalities which have 600 tonnes of wastage daily, will be able to generate power cooperating with the Power Division.

Atiqul Islam, mayor of DNCC, said electric buses would be launched in the future to make Dhaka a beautiful and environment-friendly city.

“Electricity demand for electric buses will be met from the plant. Dhaka will be a 'no fuel' city in the near future,” He said.

Also present at the event, State Minister for Power Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said, " The plant in Amin Bazar is a large renewable energy-based power plant and the largest in South Asia.”

Secretary of the Power Division Md. Habibur Rahman presided over the program while Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming spoke on the occasion.