Bangladesh has entered a new era of renewable energy with the full operation of its first centralized wind power plant in Cox's Bazar. This milestone project, backed by Chinese enterprises, marks a significant step towards sustainable energy in the country.
Located in the southeastern Cox's Bazar district, approximately 400 km from Dhaka, the wind power plant is a collaborative effort between Wuling Power Corp., a subsidiary of the Chinese mainland's State Power Investment Corp., and PowerChina Chengdu Engineering Corp.
Upon reaching full capacity, the plant is expected to generate around 145 million kWh of clean electricity annually. This will reduce coal consumption by 44,600 tonnes and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 109,200 tonnes. Additionally, the project aims to meet the electricity needs of 100,000 households, contributing to the nation's energy security.
Md. Abdul Kader Goni, the executive engineer of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, highlighted the significance of this achievement: \"With the plant's establishment, Bangladesh has entered the era of commercial wind power.\"
Hei Zhao, general manager of Wuling Power Corp.'s Bangladesh division, emphasized the pioneering role of Chinese enterprises in the project. \"This is the first time that Chinese enterprises have introduced wind power into Bangladesh as investors, filling the gap in the wind power field in Bangladesh,\" he stated.
During construction, the project utilized Chinese solutions, standards, and equipment, promoting the sustainable development of Bangladesh's renewable energy sector. It also provided training for the first batch of local wind power professionals and created over 1,500 jobs, fostering economic growth in the region.
Manik Ahamed, a Bangladeshi engineer involved in the project, shared his enthusiasm: \"I have learned a lot from this project, such as how to produce more energy with wind and how to safely produce electricity in the grid of Bangladesh. It's hoped that I can do more for our power and energy development.\"
Looking ahead, Goni expressed optimism for further energy collaboration between Bangladesh and Chinese enterprises under the Belt and Road Initiative. \"We hope that we can have more and more highly qualified cooperation like this to contribute to our energy field development,\" he added.
Reference(s):
Bangladesh's 1st wind power plant, backed by China, fully operational
cgtn.com
