BANGLADESH - KARNAPHULI THIRD UNIT

A THIRD 50 MEGAWATT(MW) GENERATING UNIT WILL BE INSTALLED & MADE OPERATIONAL TO COMPLEMENT THE TWO EXISTING 40 MW UNITS & TO INCREASE POWER GENERATION BY 152.3 MILLION KILOWATT HOURS(MKWH) ANNUALLY FROM KARNAPHULI. THIS INCREASE WILL RAISE THE ELECTRIC GENERATING CAPACITY OF KARNAPHULI TO A DEPENDABLE 360 MW FOR THE EASTERN GRID. THE NEW UNIT WILL CONSIST OF A TURBINE, GENERATOR, TRANSFORMER & MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT. THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY IN PERMITTING THE ENTIRE KARNAPHULI PROJECT TO OPERATE AS A PEAKING ELECTRIC POWER PLANT IN A MANNER FOR WHICH IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. IT WILL ALSO PERMIT IMPROVED FUNCTIONING OF THE KARNAPHULO FACILITY IN FLOOD CONTROL & NAVIGATION-TWO OF ITS ALTERNATIVE PURPOSES. THE PROJECT WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BANGLADESH POWER DEVELOPMENT BOARD (BPDB) WHICH WILL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSEEING INSTALLATION & FOR SATISFACTORILY OPERATING THE THIRD HYDROELECTRIC UNIT. BENEFICIARIES WILL BE ALL ELECTRIC USERS IN THE EASTERN GRID. Project paper update of 7/14/78 provides for additional funds to complete the original activities and changes the implementing agency from the BPDB to an expatriate contractor, the Vinnell Corporation. The project assistance completion date is estimated to be 6/30/81.