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The Rampal Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat has resumed operation at full capacity after its second unit remained shut for eight days due to a mechanical fault.
With the second unit back online, both units of the 1,320MW plant are now operational and supplying electricity to the national grid according to demand.
Anwarul Azim, general manager of the plant’s human resources department, confirmed the resumption of generation around noon on Sunday.
“Both units are now operating at full capacity. The plant also has sufficient coal in stock,” he said.
The second unit stopped generating electricity around 11:30am on September 13 due to a mechanical problem. Following maintenance work, it was restarted at around noon on Sunday.
The unit initially generated 368.75MW, with output expected to be increased gradually and supplied to the national grid according to demand, officials said.
The shutdown had reduced the plant’s daily generation by roughly half.
The Rampal plant was developed as a joint venture between Bangladesh and India. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and India’s NTPC signed an agreement in January 2012, leading to the formation of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL).
The 1,320MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Project comprises two 660MW units. The first unit began commercial generation in December 2022, while the second unit started trial generation in October 2023.
Under normal operation, the two units together generate around 1,100-1,200MW, while a single unit typically produces about 550-600MW.