Bangladesh is planning to set up its largest-ever solar power plant, a 220MW facility in Sonagazi, Feni. in a major step toward expanding renewable energy generation.
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is expected to finance the bulk of the project, which will be implemented by the state-owned Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) at an estimated cost of Tk1,888.10 crore, according to Planning Commission sources.
Titled “Establishment of 220MW Solar Power Plant in Sonagazi,” the project proposal has already been submitted to the Planning Commission for evaluation. A Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting under the commission’s Industry and Energy Division is scheduled for Sunday to review the plan.
According to the proposal, the solar plant will be built on 715 acres of a 1,000-acre site in East Bardhali, Sonagazi, acquired in 2017 for renewable energy development.
EGCB has already installed a 75MW solar power plant on 285 acres of the same land. Once implemented, the new project will become the country’s largest solar power facility, a significant stride toward achieving the government’s goal of generating 10% of total electricity from renewable sources.
The total project cost of Tk1,888.10 crore will be financed through a combination of IsDB loans worth Tk1,623.63 crore, government funds of Tk147.56 crore, and EGCB’s own contribution of Tk116.90 crore.
Subject to approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), the project is expected to be completed by June 2028.
The proposed solar facility will feature 469,560 photovoltaic modules and 26 grid-connected inverters, supported by a 240 MVA substation, four 230/233 kV transformers, and several auxiliary transformers. It will also include a 13.3-kilometre 230 kV transmission line, a water-resistant embankment, a control room, and a five-storey dormitory building.
Earlier this year, the project underwent a preliminary review at the Planning Commission, which recommended revising the Development Project Proforma (DPP) to reflect updated global market prices for solar modules and inverters.
Following the directive, EGCB reduced the total estimated cost by Tk245.87 crore before resubmitting the proposal for a second evaluation.
Saima Akter, deputy chief of the Power Wing under the Industry and Energy Division of the Planning Commission, said the upcoming PEC meeting will also assess the possibility of expanding the plant’s capacity.
“We want to explore whether increasing the generation capacity from 220MW to 250MW is technically and financially feasible,” she said, noting that the matter will be discussed with the Economic Relations Division, Power Division, and the Planning Commission.
Earlier, on June 29 this year, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement to support implementation of the Sonagazi solar project.
According to EGCB data, the company has already completed four major power generation projects: the 335MW Siddhirganj Combined Cycle Power Plant, the 240MW Siddhirganj Peaking Power Plant, the 75MW Sonagazi Solar Power Plant, and the 412MW Haripur Combined Cycle Power Plant.
Once completed, the new Sonagazi solar power plant is expected to mark a major milestone in Bangladesh’s transition to renewable energy, significantly boosting solar capacity and reinforcing the country’s commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable power future.