State Minister of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid made a strong claim: Constructing any power plant without capacity charges is impossible.
He challenged experts with this assertion while speaking to journalists at his residence in Dhaka on Friday.
Addressing concerns raised by experts regarding capacity charges, Nasrul emphasised its (capacity charge) crucial role in power plant operations and challenged experts, saying, "If you can find any small power plant operating without capacity charges, whether it is powered by oil, gas, or coal, show me. I bet you will not find any. No bank or financial institution worldwide would agree to fund such projects without capacity charges."
Nasrul further explained the significance of capacity charges, stating that these charges cover the daily fixed expenses of a power station, such as salaries, wages, and bank interests, which are essential. Even government-owned power plants must pay capacity charges because the government still has to cover expenses like salaries and wages, even if electricity production is halted. He claimed there would be no power plant anywhere in the world without capacity charges.
Regarding the initiative to convert approximately 1.2 million diesel-operated irrigation pumps to solar power, Nasrul Hamid mentioned progress and said, "We have already started using solar power in more than fifty per cent of these pumps. We are monitoring them as models. If successful, we will expand the scope of this initiative."
Regarding solar power, Hamid said, "We have approved approximately 3,700 megawatts of solar plants. If at least 1,500 megawatts of solar power is integrated into the system, it will be beneficial for us. Additionally, we are actively working on projects totaling around 12,000 megawatts in solar energy."
Hamid expressed hope for a 40-megawatt power transmission line from Nepal, aiming for implementation by next month.
He said, "We have submitted it to the Purchase Committee. Once approved, it will mark the first power transmission from Nepal."
