The government has launched an investigation into nine power plants, including the 1,320MW Bangladesh-India Rampal coal-fired plant and the 1,320MW RPCL-Norinco Patuakhali plant, that have reportedly been operating without approved tariffs or formal Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
Power and Energy Adviser Dr. Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan confirmed the move to Just Energy News following its report titled, “9 power plants, including Rampal, running without tariff approval.”
“I have asked the Power Secretary to investigate the matter based on the report,” Dr. Khan said.
The nine plants, with a combined generation capacity of 3,413.694MW, were commissioned between 2012 and 2023 under the previous Awami League-led government.
Due to the absence of proper tariff approvals, the Ministry of Finance has withheld Tk 5,056.89 crore in subsidies allocated for these plants for the period between October 2024 and June 2025.
In a letter dated June 17, 2025, the Finance Division noted that while Tk 3,696 crore in subsidies had already been disbursed to the Power Division, the remaining amount could not be released without securing tariff approval.
The Finance Division also instructed the Power Division to obtain tariff clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase by July 2025 to ensure the continuation of future subsidy disbursements.
The power plants reportedly operating without PPA approval are: 1,320MW Rampal Power Plant (Bangladesh-India JV), 1,320MW Patuakhali Power Plant (RPCL-Norinco JV), 210MW Mymensingh Power Plant, 52.194MW Kodda Power Plant, 25.50MW Rowzan Power Plant, 105MW Gazipur Power Plant, 163MW Mirsharai Power Plant, 150MW Kodda Power Plant, and 68MW Sirajganj Power Plant.
Consumer Rights Groups Raise Alarm
Consumer rights groups and energy experts have expressed serious concern over the apparent regulatory failures.
Professor Anu Muhammad, a leading energy expert and economist, criticised the continued operation of the Rampal plant without tariff approval.
“This clearly points to irregularities,” he told Just Energy News. “Instead of retroactively approving tariffs, the government should consider canceling such projects altogether.”