GE Signs MOU with Bangladesh Power Board

American conglomerate GE (General Electric) inked July 11 an MOU with Bangladesh Power Development Board worth potentially $4.4bn for a 3.6-GW gas fired power plant at Moheshkhail in Cox’s Bazaar and an LNG import terminal.

The BPDB would be the lead partner with 51%, while GE would have 30% and the remaining 19% will be provided by another strategic investor. The prime minister’s energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury was the chief guest at that MOU signing ceremony and the other ceremony taking place July 11 in which GE agreed to be part of a separate $3bn project with other partners.

State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) Nasrul Hamid and the US ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, were the special guests at both functions.

The PM’s adviser lauded GE for being associated with the Bangladeshi companies to implement the power and energy projects. Chowdhury urged GE to establish a turbine manufacturing plant in the country and help Bangladesh with innovative technologies to ensure sustainable energy at affordable costs.

He also requested GE to establish coal-fired power plants in Bangladesh to ensure diversification of energy and proper fuel-mix. Chowdhury also requested the GE to harness the human capital of Bangladesh. Bangladesh will also engage the private sector in electricity transmission to meet the growing need, said the state minister.