News agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported signing a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 30 MW solar power plant in Tentulia. The PPA was signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Korotoa Solar Limited (KSL).

As per the agreement, KSL will set up the plant in Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district on 130 acres of land. The company is a joint venture between Beximco Power Company Limited that holds a 80% stake and China’s Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co. Limited (ZTT) with a 20% share.

Beximco is an energy venture of diversified business house Beximco Group of Bangladesh. Its Chinese counterpart ZTT is a producer for fiber optic cables and other solutions for telecom and energy industries, which was debarred by the World Bank in May 2019 for a period of 20 months on charges of fraudulent practices under the Lusaka Transmission and Distribution Rehabilitation Project in Zambia.

Chinese companies have been very active in the solar power field in Bangladesh.

Back in October 2017, Beximco’s sister company Teesta Solar Limited along with China’s TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Co. Ltd. signed a 20-year PPA with BPDB for a 200 MW solar power plant in Sundarganj, Gaibandha district (see PPA For 200 MW PV Plant In Bangladesh). 

China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation announced a $500 million investment to help local utility North-West Power Generation Company set up 450 MW solar and 50 MW wind power capacity by 2022 under a joint venture. Solar projects are planned to come up in Pabna, Sirajganj and Gaibandha districts (see China To Help Bangladesh Develop 450 MW Solar).

Another Chinese company JinkoSolar is part of a consortium with Metito and Aljomaih Energy and Water to have won a 55 MW solar power auction in Bangladesh for $0.0748 per kWh as the lowest winning bid (see Bangladesh Announces Winner Of 55 MW Solar Project).