163 MW Gas based Combined Cycle Power Plant

Kushiara Power Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as KPCL) has set up a gas fired Combined Cycle Power Plant at Fenchuganj under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) program and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The 163 MW Gas fired combined cycle power plant was developed on BOO basis by Max Infrastructure Limited (MIL), the flagship company of Max Group and one of the leading construction companies in Bangladesh. The power plant is in operation from 28 April 2018.  Natural gas is being delivered from the Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited (JGTDSL) via a new pipeline of approximately 150 meter, connecting the power plant to the existing Valve Station owned by JGTDSL. A 230 kV switch yard was constructed at the plant while a 3.9 km new 230 kV transmission line was constructed and handed over to the Power GridCompany of Bangladesh (PGCB) by the KPCL for power evacuation from the plant. Another two gas-based engine power plants are located approximately 500m and 640m south of the KPCL. There is a settlement cluster located close to KPCL. There are two brick kilns approximately 350m north and 1.4km south from KPCL. 

A circulatory water system is put in place for KPCL. Total 300 m3/h water is being circulated in a closed cycle 24/7. Underground water was the primary source of all the required supply of water for meeting different demand of water including makeup of circulating water systems, service water, domestic water etc. till 2019. Later, surface water is being used as raw water intake for these purposes. The spillage water is discharged after primary treatment adhering to the discharged effluent characteristic of GOB Environment Conservation Rule (1997) Schedule 10 (Standards for Waste from Industrial Units or Project Waste) and the applicable World Bank Group environmental requirements and World Bank/IFC guidelines. It was mentioned in the ESIA report that the discharge of cooling water into the adjoining Kushiara River is subject to harm aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and planktons since elevated temperature typically decreases the level of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. Uncontrolled discharge of warm water can also increase the metabolic rate of aquatic animals, as enzyme activity, resulting in these organisms consuming more food in a shorter time. An increased metabolic rate hence can result in food source shortages, causing a sharp decrease in a population. Changes in the environment also result in a migration of organisms to another, more suitable environment and to in-migration of fishes that normally only live in warmer waters elsewhere. Against this backdrop, KPCL has assigned EQMS Consulting Limited through a competitive bidding to undertake a fisheries study providing independent opinion examining and evaluating fisheries status at the stipulated area of concern.

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