On June 11, Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) took over ownership of the power plant which tripped over 15 times throughout its operational run since February last, mostly due to sub-standard machinery supplied by Chinese contractor company CMC, plant sources said.

CMC will look after the maintenance of the US$ 250 million power plant for two years as per agreement.

Another agreement with CMC to train-up the PDB officials for power plant management will be signed any time this month, PDB officials said.

Initially the plant was scheduled to start operation in 1998 but it was delayed due to poor progress of the Chinese-built coal-mining project.

The power plant also failed to go into operation at least five times from last October to January this year, PDB sources said.

On February 8, former state minister for power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud asked the plant's Chinese builder CMC to start commercial operation of both the units by April.

But both the units of the plant tripped due to technical glitches including problems of valves and cylinder leakages while the company opted for repair rather than changing the faulty machinery.

The authorities detected hundreds of technical faults and shut down the plant several times.

The plant is being set up under a supplier's credit of more than $250 million while the much bigger Meghnaghat 450MW gas-fired AES power plant was set up at a cost of $170 million.

With the help of a section of unscrupulous PDB officials, CNC is killing time to end the guarantee period, sources said.

Operation and maintenance of the power plant has become impossible due to CMC's non-compliance with the contract and its non-cooperation with PDB, said a source.

There are also allegations of gross irregularities in procuring the plant's turbine by changing the design without approval of the authorities.

The plant requiring 2,500 tonne of coal a day will consume 65 per cent of the estimated 1 million tonne yearly coal production from the mine.

The remaining 35 per cent coal will be used for brick-fields and domestic purposes.