ECNEC Okays Ghorashal 3rd Unit Re-Powering Project

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project today at its 22nd meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, briefed the reporters about its outcome. He said the ECNEC approved a total of seven development projects including the Ghorashal repowering with the outlay of Taka 3,511 crore

"Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 1,053 crore from the national exchequer while Taka 2,041 crore would come as project assistance and the organization concerned will contribute Taka 417 crore from own fund," he added.

Of the approved seven projects, five are new while two are revised projects.

State Minister for Finance and Planning M A Mannan was present at the briefing.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under the Power Division would implement the project titled 'Ghorashal 3rd Unit Re-Powering' project by December 2017 at Palash Upazila in Narsingdi.

Once the project is completed, the Planning Minister said additional 246 MW of power would be added to the national grid with the existing power generation capacity of 170 MW.

Under the project, a 260.30 MW of gas turbine generating unit, gas booster compressor and auxiliaries diesel generator would be set up, rehabilitation and modification of the existing 210 MW steam turbine generating unit, procurement of heat recovery steam generator, setting up combined cycle power plant for ensuring fruitful and efficient use of gas, increasing the life time of old power plants.

Apart from the power project, the ECNEC meeting also approved another project titled "Construction of Upazila and Union Land Office (6th phase)" involving Taka 537 crore to be entirely borne from the national exchequer.

Under the project, a total of 139 one-storey upazila land office with four-storey foundation would be constructed alongside construction of 500 union land offices under 61 districts in seven divisions.

Public Works Department, district administrations concerned and the Land Ministry would implement the project by June 2019.

The other projects approved in the meeting are Construction of 14 storied building with three basements for head office of Board of Investment (BoI) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with TK 123 crore (1st revised), widening of Chittagong (oxygen circle)-Hathazari portion with dividers on Chittagong-Rangamati national highway (1st revised) with TK 225 crore, establishment of passport personalization complex project with TK 28 crore, supply and establishment of 33/11 KV electrical sub-substation for keeping power supply stable at Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant Phase-2 with TK 35 crore and imparting intensive training after hunting sporting talents at grassroots level and modernization of the sporting facilities at the BKSP with TK 41 crore.

Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.