Rampal plant to resume power generation today

The first unit of the 1320 MW Rampal power plant will resume power generation from today after being shut down for a month due to coal shortage.

Authorities of the coal-fired power plant, Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (BIFPCL), said the decision to resume power generation operation came following an easing dollar crisis and resumption of coal imports.

“A ship carrying 30,000 tonnes of coal arrived in the country on 9 February and another shipment with 50,000 tonnes is due on 18 February,” Anwarul Azim, DGM of BIFPCL, said while briefing a group of journalists at the power plant area in Bagerhat.  

The much-talked Rampal Power plant is a joint venture initiative of the Bangladesh and the Indian governments. The mega power station began commercially generating 660 MW electricity from its first unit on December 17 last year. But production stopped 

However, after 27 days of commercial operation, the operation was suspended on January 14 due to coal shortage after an Indonesian fuel supplier refused to supply coal due to delayed payment.