Bangladesh Enters Era of Wind Energy with First Commercial Wind Power Plant
Bangladesh’s first centralized wind power project, located in the southeastern Cox’s Bazar district, has been fully commissioned, marking a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy development. The wind farm, backed by Chinese investment and constructed by Chinese enterprises, became fully operational on Sunday after the installation of its last wind-driven generator.
The project, situated about 400 kilometers from the capital Dhaka, was developed with investment from Wuling Power Corporation, a subsidiary of China’s State Power Investment Corporation, and built by PowerChina Chengdu Engineering Corporation. The wind farm is expected to generate approximately 145 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, reduce coal consumption by 44,600 tonnes, and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 109,200 tonnes. It aims to meet the electricity needs of around 100,000 households in Bangladesh.
Md. Abdul Kader Goni, Executive Engineer of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, highlighted the significance of the project. “With the establishment of this plant, Bangladesh has entered the era of commercial wind power,” he said. “It marks a new chapter in our pursuit of sustainable and renewable energy sources.”
Hei Zhao, General Manager of the Bangladesh division of Wuling Power Corporation, emphasized the collaborative efforts in bringing wind energy to Bangladesh. “This is the first time that Chinese enterprises have introduced wind power into Bangladesh as investors, filling the gap in the wind power field here,” he stated. “During the construction of the project, we utilized Chinese solutions, standards, and equipment to promote the sustainable development of Bangladesh’s renewable energy industry. We also trained the first batch of practical talents in the field of wind power for Bangladesh and provided more than 1,500 local jobs.”
Local engineer Manik Ahamed, who was involved in the project, expressed his enthusiasm for the advancements in renewable energy. “Our country needs this kind of energy,” he said. “I have learned a lot from this project, such as how to harness wind to produce more energy and how to safely integrate electricity into Bangladesh’s grid. I hope to contribute more to our power and energy development.”
Goni also conveyed hope for continued collaboration between Bangladesh and China in the energy sector. “The cooperation of our two countries in the energy field under the Belt and Road Initiative has achieved fruitful outcomes, such as this first-ever wind power project in Cox’s Bazar,” he remarked. “In the future, we hope to engage in more high-quality cooperation like this to contribute to our energy development.”
The successful commissioning of the Cox’s Bazar wind power plant represents a significant step towards diversifying Bangladesh’s energy sources and promoting sustainable development. It reflects the growing emphasis on renewable energy in Asia’s economic landscape and the strengthening of regional partnerships.
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Bangladesh's 1st wind power plant, backed by China, fully operational
cgtn.com
