The government has approved the 442-MW peak Rampal solar power project with a condition to add eight hours of battery storage, a new requirement that will slightly raise its Tk 2,498.08-crore project cost.
The project was originally placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting, held at the Secretariat on Wednesday chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, for grid-connected solar power generation without battery storage.
However, the highest economic policy making body approved it subject to revising the project to incorporate the storage facility, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki told at press conference after the Ecnec meeting.
“This could push up the project cost which can be confirmed after a revised project proposal is prepared. Per-unit electricity price will also be determined after the project is updated,” Saki said.
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had separately proposed a four-hour battery storage facility, which could raise the generation cost to around Tk 9 per unit, compared with about Tk 6 proposed originally for grid-connected solar power alone, he explained.
In total, the Ecnec meeting approved 13 projects involving a combined cost of Tk 16,207.55 crore.
Of the total, Tk 10,600.80 crore will come from government funds, Tk 4,081.85 crore from project loans and Tk 1,524.91 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds.
Rampal solar project
The Rampal 442-MWp Solar Power Plant Construction Project, proposed by the Power Division, will be implemented by BPDB with the aim of increasing renewable power generation, diversifying the country’s primary fuel sources and reducing carbon emissions.
The original project cost of Tk 2,498.08 crore includes Tk 374.71 crore from BPDB’s own funds and Tk 2,123.37 crore from the Power Sector Development Fund.
The fund’s loan will carry a 2 percent interest rate, with a one-year grace period and a 16-year repayment period.
The Planning Commission has recommended implementing the project between September 2026 and March 2029. The revised project cost, including the battery-storage component, will be determined later.
Once completed, the plant will add 442 MW of solar generation capacity to the national grid. Bangladesh currently has around 797 MW of solar generation capacity against total on-grid generation capacity of 28,827 MW.
The Planning Commission said the project would help increase renewable-energy generation and support the government’s target of raising renewable energy’s share of the total energy mix to 20 percent by 2030.
The plant will be built on 918.50 acres in Block-B of Rampal, which BPDB acquired earlier. Using the existing land will save the project from fresh land-acquisition costs and delays.
The electricity generated by the plant will be evacuated through existing transmission infrastructure associated with the nearby Rampal coal-fired power plant. This, according to the project documents, will allow the solar project to be implemented relatively quickly and at a lower cost.
BPDB acquired a total of 1,834 acres in Rampal in 2012 for development of a coal-fired power plant. The land was divided into Block-A, covering 915.50 acres, and Block-B, covering 918.50 acres.
The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Ltd’s Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant was built on Block-A, while Block-B remains under BPDB. Land development and boundary-wall construction have already been completed in Block-B.
The proposed solar plant will use photovoltaic modules with a minimum capacity of 640 watts peak. It will also have grid-tied inverters with a combined capacity of 360 MW, a pooling substation, a three-kilometre double-circuit 230-kV transmission line and three 230-kV bays, including one spare bay.
Solar photovoltaic modules and mounting structures account for the largest share of the original project cost, at Tk 1,238.61 crore, or about half of the total. Electrical equipment, including inverters, transformers and SCADA systems, will cost Tk 732.25 crore.
A feasibility study conducted by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company found the project acceptable, according to the project documents.
The project was included in the FY27 Annual Development Programme as an unapproved “green page” project.
The Planning Commission said the project would also contribute to the government’s energy-security goals by diversifying primary fuel sources and reducing carbon emissions. It is also aligned with the Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development and Sustainable Development Goal 7.
Other ECNEC approvals
The ECNEC also approved seven projects under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
These include improving road and drainage infrastructure in 18 wards under five newly incorporated areas of Dhaka South City Corporation; upgrading key infrastructure and rehabilitating damaged roads in Rangpur City Corporation; and constructing roads, drains and footpaths in zones one to eight of Gazipur City Corporation.
Other projects under the ministry include women’s skills development and entrepreneurship through cooperatives, rural infrastructure development in Sirajganj, Bogura and Naogaon districts, and the second revised Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project.
The committee also approved the third revised project for procuring 35 commercial and eight auxiliary vessels for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation and constructing two new slipways.
Under the Ministry of Railways, it approved the Railway Capacity Expansion Project for procuring 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives for Bangladesh Railway.
The ECNEC also approved a project under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to renovate and modernise the purchased chancery building in Paris.
Two projects under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges were approved. One involves constructing the Second Karatoya Bridge on the Bhajanpur-Nijbari-Atorkhari-Mainaguri-Amtali-Mirgachh-Panchagarh road, while the other is the second revised Thanchi-Rimakri-Madak-Likri Road Construction Project.
The meeting was also informed about a project costing less than Tk 50 crore that had already been approved by the Planning Minister. The project involves re-excavating the Nandahar and Harabati rivers and Nunogola and Kharowa canals in Joypurhat.
Ministers and state ministers concerned attended the meeting, while Planning Commission members and relevant secretaries were present.