PowerChina delivers PFS report on Phulbari power plants in Bangladesh

Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), the parent company of Sinohydro Corporation, has delivered a Power Plant Pre-feasibility Assessment Report (PFS) to UK-based mining and energy company GCM Resources (GCM) for the construction of additional power plants in Bangladesh.

The report is for further mine-mouth coal-fired power plants at the Phulbari coal and power project site.

In September this year, GCM appointed Sinohydro to conduct a pre-feasibility study and other due diligence for the proposed power plants.

These plants would have the capacity to generate up to 4,000MW at the Phulbari site.

The PFS suggests 6,000MW can be generated from the mine’s thermal coal production ‘using the latest high energy-efficient Ultra-Super Critical power plant design’.

The new power plants in Bangladesh will be in addition to the existing 2,000MW power plant proposal with China Gezhouba Group International Engineering (CGGC).

GCM executive chairman Datuk Michael Tang said: “This is a significant step for the Phulbari Coal and Power Project as it confirms that technically the project is able to support 6,000MW of power generation.

“Subject to satisfactory negotiations, we aim to extend the arrangement with PowerChina and then for more detailed feasibility studies to be completed on the proposed mine-mouth power plants, which we anticipate will provide energy at the lowest-cost in Bangladesh.

“We are confident that with the support of such high calibre development partners the Phulbari Coal and Power Project will deliver substantial benefits for the government, the people of Bangladesh and our shareholders.”

GCM noted that these power plants are expected to be commissioned in line with the coal mine’s ramp up to full production.