It is an Indonesia-made floating unit with a production capacity of 80 megawatt and is one of the four units being installed by Westmont Power Bangladesh at the cost of $250 million.

The 90mw capacity first unit of the 340mw power plant was installed in 1999 and is already in operation, sources said. The other two units with production capacity of 90mw and 80mw are expected to arrive by October, they said.

Pirates, meanwhile, attacked the barge carrying the unit immediately after its arrival at the outer anchorage at around 9:00am, sources said.

However, an instant joint action by the Coastguard, Bangladesh Air Force and Navy saved the barge from massive looting. But the pirates took away some valuable ropes and other valuables reportedly worth about Tk 3 lakh before the forces arrived on the scene.