An agreement was signed on Wednesday between the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Chinese firm China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to develop the country’s first ever waste-based power plant in Dhaka.  

The power plant will generate 42.5 MW of electricity from the garbage in the capital city.

Welcoming the deal, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister M Tajul Islam has said a new era will begin in Dhaka city’s garbage management with the implementation of the project.

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Under the agreement, Dhaka city will supply 3,000 mts of solid waste to the project daily while CMEC will set up an incineration plant to generate 42.5 MW power and BPDB will purchase the electricity from the plant at US21.78 Cents, equivalent to Tk 18.295, per kilowatt hour (each unit) over the period of 25 year.

A number of associated agreements were signed between the parties to implement the projects under which the DNCC will also provide 30 acres of land to set up the incineration and power plant at Aminbazar in the city while the CMEC will complete the construction of the project and start commercial operation within 24 months from the financial closing.

The Chinese firm will complete the financial closing of the project within nine months of the contract’s effective date.

Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) will build required power transmission lines to evacuate electricity from the project.

The agreement was signed at a function at Sonargaon Hotel in the city while State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam, and Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Li Jiming also spoke.

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Tajul Islam said the project was undertaken in line with Bangladesh’s commitment to the COP26 conference to reduce the carbon emission.

Nasrul Hamid said similar projects will also be taken in all other City Corporation areas across the country.

Mayor Atiqul Islam said the DNCC and the DSCC have been working together to introduce electric vehicles in the city as part of the government’s commitment to green energy.

“No fuel-fired vehicles will be allowed in Dhaka city to run in near future,”he added.