DINAJPUR : The third unit of the coal-fired Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Dinajpur, with a power generation capacity of 275 megawatts (MW), has resumed electricity generation after a 29-day shutdown.

Chief Engineer of the Barapukuria Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique confirmed the development to BSS this afternoon. 

“Electricity generated from the unit has been supplied to the national grid since 2:30 pm on Wednesday following its successful restart,” he said.

According to Siddique, trial operations of the third unit began around 9:30 pm on Tuesday after the prolonged shutdown. Following successful testing, the unit commenced full-scale power generation today, and electricity supply to the national grid began in the afternoon.

Currently, two units of the power plant -- Unit-1, which has a capacity of 125 MW, and Unit-3, with a capacity of 275 MW, are currently functional.  

Sources at the plant said Unit-1 is currently generating between 65 and 70 MW of electricity. Meanwhile, the newly restarted Unit-3 is expected to initially produce around 175 MW. Authorities plan to gradually increase generation from the unit to more than 200 MW in the coming days.

Chief Engineer Siddique said one of the plant’s units had previously resumed operation but was forced to shut down again. With the successful restart of the third unit, additional coal-based electricity is now being added to the national grid.

“We have been able to bring the third unit back into operation from today. We expect to significantly increase coal-based power generation,” he said.

Barapukuria Coal Mine Managing Director Shah Alam said work is underway to resolve ongoing issues related to the coal yard. 

He said that higher authorities have made a decision to store part of the mined coal elsewhere and sell a portion in the open market. In addition, another nearby power plant unit has recently resumed operations, which is expected to increase coal consumption.

Officials believe that higher electricity generation and increased coal utilization will help stabilize the Barapukuria project and contribute positively to the national power supply system.