33,000 tons coal for Rampal Power Plant arrived at Mongla Port
Bagerhat Correspondent :
A foreign ship named MV. S Paynel carrying the national flag of Panama laden with 33 thousand metric tons coal for Bangladesh-India Friendship coal based Power Plant at Rampal in Bagerhat district arrived at Mongla Sea Port and anchored with its Fair buoy in Wednesday evening at 7-30 pm, according to a report received here. It was confirmed by Md. Sirajul Haq, Manager of Khulna based office of M/S. Tolly Shipping, local shipping agent of the foreign ship (MV. S Paynel). He told, this ship carrying 33 thousand metric tons coal left Indonesia on January 27 and after unloading the imported coal will be sent to the power plant within a short time. Another foreign ship carrying 55 thousand metric tons coal will arrive at Mongla Port on February 16 and after unloading this (imported) coal will be sent to the power plant as early as possible.
Sayeed Ekram Ullah, Managing Director (MD), Bangladesh-India Friendship power plant at Rampal told, due to the non-availability of coal from Indonesia for delayed release of US dollars the production of electricity was suddenly suspended on January 14. This problem was already solved by this time. He added, as a result, a ship carrying 33 thousand metric tons coal for the power plant arrived at Mongla Port in the evening of Wednesday. He also added, henceforth the supply of coal from Indonesia or other countries will continue uninterruptedly. Consequently, the power plant will resume its production by the month of June this year. Besides this, the concerned authorities (of the power plant) are trying their best to produce electricity by the 2nd unit of the power plant as early as possible. As a result, the power plant will be able to produce 1320 mega watts electricity.
It may be mentioned here that the 1st unit the power plant went into operation in the month of December, 2022. But after 27 days the production (of 660 mega watts electricity) was suddenly suspended for want of coal on January 14, 2023.
