POWERCHINA-funded S.ALAM power plant project unveiled

Leaders of China and Bangladesh witnessed the unveiling of six major Sino-Bangladeshi projects on Oct 14, 2016.

The S.ALAM 2×660MW supercritical coal-fired power plant project in Bangladesh funded and carried out by POWERCHINA was among them.

Bangladesh is an important country along the Maritime Silk Road. In recent years, the country has showed strong economic development momentum, with an average annual GDP growth rate of more than 6 percent.

In order to solve its power shortage problems and meet the growing demand for electricity, the Bangladeshi government plans to significantly increase its power generation capacity, and has set a target of 60 million kilowatts of power generation nationwide by 2141.

S.ALAM Power Plant is the highest-capacity coal-fired power plant with the highest-capacity single-unit thermal power units in Bangladesh, and makes use of seawater DC cooling and seawater desulphurization technology.

The project operates in BOO mode. SEPCOIII, a subsidiary of POWERCHINA, established a joint venture with Bangladesh's S.ALAM Group, and owns a small share of the company.

The main equipment for the project will be manufactured in China. The contract calls for the construction of power stations and terminals, as well as feasibility studies, exploration, design, procurement, operation and maintenance.

As an important project of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the power plant will significantly alleviate pressure on the local power supply and promote local economic and social development.

POWERCHINA also signed multiple project agreements with the Bangladeshi government in five major areas: equipment manufacturing, renewable energy, thermal power, water conservancy and water engineering. Among these agreements was the EPC general contract for the Bokari 1×660MW coal-fired power station project and a MOU on the comprehensive Bangladesh river basin management project.

The projects adhere to Chinese standards, use Chinese equipment, and follow Chinese construction, operation and maintenance methods.

After completion, the projects are expected to improve local living standards and the environment, consolidate friendly China-Bangladesh relations, and significantly enhance POWERCHINA's status and influence in the international EPC general contracting market and global power construction.

In recent years, China has been promoting the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and three "economic corridors" in South Asia. It has compared China's development vision with the development strategies of South Asian countries in an attempt to create an innovative and cooperative development model throughout the region.

China has strived to build friendly relations with South Asian countries, a move that is highly compatible with the countries' economic and social development strategy, and provides a great opportunity for each country to achieve its economic and social development goals.

Since entering the Bangladeshi market, POWERCHINA has undertaken many major national projects in Bangladesh, including the country's highest-capacity coal-fired power station, South Asia's largest sewage treatment plant, and the country's first port-dredging project.

POWERCHINA has become a mighty force in the construction of energy infrastructure in Bangladesh.