Mujibur Rahman, Dhaka — Bangladesh is preparing to invite tenders for a 442-megawatt solar power plant in Rampal, Bagerhat, as the government seeks to expand renewable energy generation, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and diversify the country’s energy mix. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) that tender documents were being prepared following approval of the grid-connected project by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the plant targeted to become operational by June 2029. The proposed facility will be developed on 918.50 acres in Block-B of Rampal, land that BPDB acquired and developed originally for a coal-fired power project.
According to project documents, the government has approved a 442-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power plant with eight-hour battery storage. The project is estimated to cost Tk 2,498.08 crore. BPDB will implement the project using Tk 374.71 crore from its own funds and Tk 2,123.37 crore from the Power Sector Development Fund (PSDF). The PSDF financing will carry an interest rate of 2 percent, with a one-year grace period and a repayment period of 16 years. The project aims to increase renewable electricity generation, reduce carbon emissions and strengthen Bangladesh’s long-term energy security.
Project estimates put the proposed electricity tariff at Tk 6.18 per unit. That would be around 30 percent lower than the estimated Tk 8.87 per-unit tariff for a proposed 220-MW solar power plant in Sonagazi, Feni. An initial project proposal estimated generation costs at around Tk 6 per unit without battery storage. The final generation cost and tariff will depend on project implementation, financing, operating expenses and the terms established through the procurement process.
BPDB acquired approximately 1,834 acres in Rampal in 2012 for a coal-fired power plant. The site was divided into two blocks: Block-A, covering 915.50 acres, and Block-B, covering 918.50 acres. The 1,320-MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant, operated by Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Ltd, was built on Block-A. Block-B remains under BPDB and is now designated for the proposed solar development. The project represents a shift in the use of land originally intended for coal-based generation toward renewable energy.
The solar plant will connect to the national electricity grid through a new 230-kilovolt transmission system linked to a nearby substation of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd. Once operational, the facility is expected to supply up to 442 MW of solar generation capacity to the grid, subject to weather conditions, system availability and the performance of its battery storage system.
The project is also expected to help ease environmental pressure on the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, although its actual environmental benefits will depend on implementation and the electricity generation it displaces.
Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said converting land originally earmarked for coal generation into a solar project reflected Bangladesh’s changing energy priorities. The project, he said, could contribute to long-term energy security by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and supporting a cleaner, more resilient power sector.
The government is also pursuing a nationwide programme to expand rooftop solar installations and develop a network of renewable energy entrepreneurs and service providers under its National Renewable Energy programme.
The proposed Rampal plant is expected to contribute to Bangladesh’s target of generating 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. According to project documents, Bangladesh’s total on-grid power generation capacity, including captive power and renewable energy, stands at 29,143 MW. Solar power accounts for 1,642.7 MW of that total.
The project was included in the Annual Development Programme for fiscal year 2026-27 as an unapproved project under the “green page” category. It is also aligned with the country’s Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, which promotes access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
Solar photovoltaic modules and mounting structures are expected to account for the largest portion of the project budget, at Tk 1,238.61 crore, or approximately half of the total cost. Electrical equipment, including inverters, transformers and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, is budgeted at Tk 732.25 crore. A feasibility study by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC) found the project acceptable, according to the project summary.
With tender preparation underway, the next major steps will be procurement, contractor selection and construction. If the current timetable is maintained, the Rampal project could become a significant addition to Bangladesh’s renewable energy capacity by June 2029.
