220MW solar power plant planned in Feni
Of the estimated Tk2,134cr project, Tk1,748 crore is expected from IsDB
In a significant move towards achieving Bangladesh's clean energy ambitions, the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) will construct a 220-megawatt solar power plant in Feni's Sonagazi.
The initiative is part of the government's broader strategy to increase the share of renewable energy in the national power mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
According to the project proposal, the Sonagazi 220MW Solar Power Plant Project is scheduled to start on 1 July 2025, with completion expected by 30 June 2028. The total estimated cost of the project stands at Tk2,134 crore. Of this, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is expected to finance approximately Tk1,748 crore through a project loan.
The remaining funds will be covered by the Bangladesh government, contributing around Tk251 crore and the EGCB, which will provide Tk135 crore from its own resources.
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A meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee of the Planning Commission was held last month to review the project proposal. Officials from the Planning Commission have said that the project has been provisionally approved in the evaluation committee meeting and has been recommended for final approval at the upcoming meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
However, the evaluation committee meeting decided not to include the construction of administrative buildings and rest houses under the project. In addition, it issued instructions to reduce costs in several areas, including consultancy services, staffing, and transportation. As a result, officials from the Planning Commission and the EGCB have indicated that the revised project proposal is expected to reflect a reduced overall cost.
Ruhul Amin, member, Industry and Energy Division of Planning Commission, said, "We need to gradually move towards renewable energy, and the Planning Commission supports initiatives aligned with this goal. Following a detailed review, it has been decided to place the project before the Ecnec meeting for final approval."
The project aims to support Bangladesh's target of generating 10% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan 2023, and the country's Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
According to the project proposal, once operational, the plant is expected to generate approximately 441.18GWh of electricity annually, contributing significantly to the national grid and helping meet growing energy demand in industrial zones.
EGCB officials said the company has already acquired 999.65 acres of non-agricultural, coastal land in Sonagazi, where solar irradiation levels are above the national average. A 75MW solar power plant, funded by the World Bank (WB), is already operational at the site, successfully generating clean power since February 2024 with WB support.
The new 220MW plant will capitalise on the existing infrastructure and location advantages, strategically situated between Dhaka and Chattogram, two of Bangladesh's major load centres.
Officials said the project's viability is backed by several in-depth studies conducted over recent years. A 2018 study by WindForce Management Services (India), EQMS Consulting (Bangladesh), and Suntrace GmbH (Germany) assessed the site's potential for utility-scale solar power generation. This was followed by a 2021 flood risk analysis conducted by CEGIS and a project-specific feasibility study this year, carried out by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company. All three studies confirmed the technical suitability and economic feasibility of developing a large-scale solar power plant at the Sonagazi site.
The initiative aligns with the government's target to achieve 40,000 MW total power generation capacity by 2030 and 60,000 MW by 2041, with an increasing share coming from renewables. It also supports the goals of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, aiming for sustainable, climate-resilient development.
Officials noted that the project would not only help cut greenhouse gas emissions but also contribute to the country's net-zero carbon emissions goal, improve energy security, and support broader economic development through a reliable electricity supply.
