PM opens 200MW solar power plant in Gaibandha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a 200 megawatt (MW) solar power plant-- Teesta Solar Limited --from a public meeting held at Rangpur Zila School ground on Wednesday.

Beximco Power has constructed the country's largest solar power plant at Sundarganj in Gaibandha, according to a press release of the company.

The power plant has been generating power and ensuring transmission to the national grid since December 2022 on a trial basis.

BSS adds: About the project, Shayan F. Rahman, Chairman of Beximco Power Limited, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has a roadmap for global warming and environment protection.

The government is doing a lot of work on it, he added.

He said Beximco is a pioneer in many sectors.

"We think, the renewable energy sector will be very important for future energy. So we have taken decision to invest here," he added.

He said the project is a crucial solution to the power crisis in the northern region, which is facing challenges due to its dependence on imported primary fuels and the pressure it places on the country's forex reserves.

Mentioning that this project is 100 percent owned by Beximco Power Limited, he further said, "We launched the first green Sukuk bond, sharia-compliant bonds, in the country to finance this project. We have spent about US$300 million in this project. In the future, we are thinking of setting up more solar power plants as per government plans."

The construction of the power plant started in 2017. Around 5.50 lakh solar panels were installed.

To connect the produced electricity to the national grid, a 35 km power transmission line of 122 towers of 132 kilo volts has been constructed.