Beza, ADB sign deal to evelop 100-200MW solar power project in National Special Economic Zone

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement a 100 to 200 megawatt (MW) solar power project in the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The solar project will be developed in the Sonagazi Upazila of Feni, which is part of the NSEZ, Beza said in a press release today (29 June).

The agreement signing ceremony was chaired by Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, who is the executive chairman of both Beza and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), and was attended by ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong.

The ADB will provide technical assistance for the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) project. This support includes feasibility studies, financial modelling, environmental impact assessments, legal evaluations, and assistance with the tender process to select private partners, according to the release.

The power tariff will be determined through an international competitive bidding process to ensure transparency.

Ashik Mahmud described the initiative as a milestone for both Beza and the Bangladesh government. "This is the first-ever solar project within an economic zone to be developed under a PPP framework," he said.

Hoe Yun Jeong noted that the project would set a new benchmark for Bangladesh by introducing a battery energy storage system (BESS) for the first time in the country.

He added that it would not only supply clean energy to the national grid but also build investor confidence through a transparent and competitive process, encouraging further sustainable infrastructure investment.

According to Beza, the project is a key step toward establishing the NSEZ as an environmentally friendly and sustainable "green economic zone". It will be built on approximately 400 acres of Beza-owned land in Sonagazi, as designated in the master plan, read the release.

The NSEZ spans 33,805 acres across Sitakunda and Mirsarai in Chattogram and Sonagazi in Feni, making it the largest economic zone in the country.

The PPP Authority has completed project screening under the Procurement Guideline for PPP Projects of 2018, and the project received policy approval from the Advisory Committee on Economic Affairs (ACEA) on 18 March.

The implementation of this project will involve coordination among multiple government agencies, including Beza, the Economic Relations Division, the Power Division, the Bangladesh Power Development Board, the Power Grid Company, the PPP Authority, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

Once completed, the solar project will contribute to reducing carbon emissions in the national grid, ensure uninterrupted power supply to industrial areas, and encourage private investment in renewable energy in Bangladesh.