POWERCHINA eyes deals in South Asian market

POWERCHINA has expanded its operations in South Asia, with its new project in Bangladesh - the S.Alam 2×660MW supercritical coal-fired plant - being unveiled at an inauguration ceremony of key Sino-Bangladesh cooperative projects on Oct 14, 2016.

The S.Alam power station, located in Chattogram, will be partly funded and EPC-contracted by SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co (SEPCOIII), a subsidiary of POWERCHINA. The plant is currently the highest capacity power station in Bangladesh, and makes use of seawater cooling and desulfurization technology.

Under the Building-Owning-Operation (BOO) model, SEPCOIII will collaborate with the Bangladeshi S.Alam Group to set up a project company, which will be engaged in feasibility studies, purchasing, construction, operation and maintenance. Upon completion, an operation and maintenance company will be launched, offering 25 years of service. The main equipment for the plant will be imported from China.

As a key project of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the power plant is expected to help relieve pressure on Bangladesh's power supply while bolstering local social and economic growth. It will also help improve the image of Chinese companies abroad, giving China an opportunity to export electromechanical equipment, and promote a long-term China-Bangladesh friendship.

In recent years, SEPCOIII has ramped up efforts to carry out the Belt and Road Initiative and speed up the expansion of South Asia's power market. In addition to the S Alam project, it has also won a bid for the Bangladesh Sirajganj 400MW CCPP Project, further expanding its operations in South Asia.