The Meghnaghat 450MW Combined Cycle gas-fired power plant is located on a 25.09ha site 22km south of Dhaka on the northern bank of the Meghna River.
The $289.6m plant was built by US-based AES (Allied Energy Systems) Corp over a 22-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the facility was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Operations at the plant began in November 2002; however, AES sold the plant to UK company CDC Globeleq in 2003. CDC Globeleq sold the plant to Malaysia-based Pendekar Group in 2007. At present, the plant is held 76% by Pendekar Energy and 24% by Pendekar Energy Ventures (PEVL).
The Bangladesh Government has been purchasing electricity from the Meghnaghat power plant at a price below 2 cents per unit. This is considered to be the lowest ever electricity price in the world.
Pendekar Energy Group has sought approval from the Power Ministry for enhancing the capacity of the Meghnaghat power plant by 170MW.
The second phase combined cycle unit, named Meghnaghat II, with a capacity of 335MW is expected to be operational in the last quarter of 2014.
Additional base-load capacity of Meghnaghat power facility
Meghnaghat supplies domestic, agricultural and industrial users. The project brings extra base-load capacity to help solve Bangladesh’s present and forecast power shortages. As of mid-2009, the generating capacity of the 450MW plant accounted for 9% of the total power generated in the country.
The plant load factor was 88.21% in 2007. Until the end of 2007, the Meghnaghat power plant had supplied around 14,875GWh of electricity to BPDB.
Hydraulic model study for the Meghnaghat power plant
The project lies downstream of the Meghna Bridge at Meghna Ferryghat, an area that is influenced by significant tidal action during the dry season. The plant draws cool water from the river and discharges the hot water back into the freshwater source.
A Hydraulic Model Study for the plant by DHI (Danish Hydraulic Institute)/ SWMC (Surface Water Modelling Centre) included thermal plume and morphological modelling.
The Hydraulic Model Study avoided inappropriate location of intake and outlet of water, which would endanger aquatic life and cause tremendous loss of efficiency. It examined river hydraulics, advection-dispersion of heated water and sediment transport and scouring along the proposed location of the plant using advanced mathematical tools.
Construction of the Meghnaghat CCGT plant
Meghnaghat was constructed by Hyundai Engineering and Construction, using Combined-Cycle Gas Turbines fed by natural gas.
The plant uses two V94.2 gas turbines with air-cooled generator from Ansaldo Energia. The V94.2 is a single shaft, cold-end drive dual combustor with 16 burners and a heavy-duty gas turbine. It includes a 16-stage axial compressor and a 4-stage axial turbine with a common rotor.
The generator is of a conventional design for use with gas turbines. The air-cooled, two-pole machine has a cylindrical rotor and is ventilated in closed circuit configuration using air-to-water heat exchangers located in the lower part of the stator frame. Dry low-NOx combustors achieve the guaranteed NOx emission level. Steam or water injection is not required.
Heat recovery steam generators at the power plant in Meghnaghat
Related project
Dabhol Power Plant, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, India
Dabhol Power Plant is a 1,967MW combined cycle power station located 160km south of Mumbai in the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra.
Two HHI (Hyundai Heavy Industries) triple-pressure, natural-circulation Heat Recovery Steam Generators use supplementary firing, these are of natural circulation horizontal type design.
The HRSGs produce superheated HP steam, superheated reheat steam and superheated LP steam. They are designed for 100% full-load continuous operating conditions. The HRSGs use supplementary firing to achieve the required 450MW net output at the high voltage side of the outgoing terminals of the 230kV transformer. The HRSGs, pumps and auxiliaries are designed for outdoor installation.
The plant uses a FUJI triple-pressure (HP, IP and LP), reheat, condensing, down exhaust type steam turbine with air-cooled generator. The steam turbine has no steam extraction. The two-pole generator is totally enclosed and water-to-air-cooled.
The steam turbine is installed indoors for environmental protection and acoustic attenuation. The steam turbine building has an overhead travelling crane for heavy-load maintenance lifting. The building has suitable indoor laydown areas for plant maintenance.
The gas turbine maintenance contract was awarded to Ansaldo, an Italian company. A long-term parts management contract was awarded to Siemens Germany in 2006.
Financing of Meghnaghat CCGT
The 450MW Meghnaghat power plant was financed through $220m of debt and $75m of equity. The debt facilities were provided by Asian Development Bank, as well as other lenders. An $80m loan, the largest from any Bangladeshi financial institution, was extended by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL).
Meghnaghat phase II
A new CCGT power plant known as Meghnaghat plant phase II or Summit Meghnaghat Power Plant is under construction at Meghnaghat. It will be a dual fuel 335MW power project. BPDB floated the tender for the second plant in 2010.
The project is being built by Summit Meghnaghat Power Company (SMPCL) on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis. SMPCL is a joint venture (JV) between Summit Industrial and Mercantile Corporation, and GE Energy. The JV is also responsible to insure and maintain the facility for a period of 22 years.
Test operations of the new plant featuring GE 9E gas turbines began in February 2014, while combined cycle operations are expected by October 2014.
