WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED)
has implemented the Bamer Chara Irrigation Project
in Banskhali Thana under Chittagong district with an
intention to provide irrigation facilities to 355
hectares of land. A large reservoir has been built in
this project for dry season irrigation. Water enters the
project area through a gated spill way and flow is
controlled downstream by a conventional regulator.
Currently LGED is examining the flow rate in the
spillway and exploring the scope for installing a micro
hydropower plant at the site.
Some studies have been conducted on a channel in
Halda River near Madhunaghat Bridge on the
Chittagong – Kaptai road in the Chittagong district as a
possible site for micro hydropower. The average flow
velocity is 0.75 m/s, average flow rate is 787 m 3 /s and
average available water head is 3.28 m. The monthly
average flow rate and available head in Mohamaya
chara, Bamerchara, Sapchari and flow rate in
Sailopropat, and Bandarban have been reported.
The results of the studies conducted by LGED and by
the Institute of Fuel Research Development (IFRD) of
Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (BCSIR) are shown in table 1 and 2
respectively.
Table 1
Potential micro-hydropower sites in Bangladesh
(Kilowatts)
Name of the canal with location
Power
potential
Nunchari Tholi Khal in Khagrachari 5
Sealock Khal in Bandarban 30
Taracha Khal in Bandarban 20
Rowangchari Khal in Bandarban 10
Hnara Khal in Kamal Chari, Rangamati 10
Hnara Khal in, Hang Khrue Chara Mukh, Rangamati 30
Monjaipara micro hydropower unit 10
Bamer Chara irrigation Project 10
Source: Local Government Engineering Department
Note: Sites identified by local government engineering department
officials.
Three potential sites (Sitakunda, Richang and Toibang
of greater Chittagong, Bangladesh) for installation of
micro hydropower plants are reported. It is
mentioned that with the available head and flow rate
a cross flow turbine or a waterwheel will be the best
option for the electricity production and the
generator would be flexible enough to cover the
range 500 to 3,500 W in these sites.
Renewable energy policy
The Bangladesh government approved its first
Renewable Energy Policy on 6 November 2008,
encouraging investment in this sector to generate
electricity from renewable sources to meet an evergrowing
demand. The main renewable energy sources
are solar energy, wind energy, biomass, biogas and
hydropower. To achieve the objectives of its
Renewable Energy Policy, the government has set a
target of meeting five per cent of the electricity
demand by 2015 by utilizing renewable energy, and
10 per cent by the year 2020. Currently, renewable
energies contribute to less than one per cent of the
country's total electricity generation.
Legislation on small hydropower
Pico/micro/mini/small hydropower sites and plants in
Bangladesh are situated in hilly areas (where there are
natural falls), on the canal drops or at the dam-toe.
Very often, hydropower requires dam or some sort of
obstacle and thereby hampers the natural flow.
Environmental impact assessment is mandatory for
site selection and erection of such hydropower plant.
Barriers to small hydropower development
Some of the major barriers to small hydropower
development in Bangladesh are:
Installation of hydropower plants requires land
acquisition. It is often delayed due to litigation,
poor maintenance of land records, etc. Reservoir
schemes could result in displacement of families.
Most of the untapped hydropower potential is
located in the remote areas of the country for
which access roads will have to be constructed
before work can commence.
Furthermore, power would have to be
transmitted over long distances to load centres
from these remote areas requiring construction
of long transmission lines. Low load factor of
hydropower reduces firm power due to strong
rainfall seasonality and plants have low output
during the dry season.
The process for getting clearance from the
environment and forest agencies is cumbersome
and involves inputs from many other agencies.
Inter-State water disputes have come in the way
of developing projects.
Table 2
Potential hydropower sites in Bangladesh
Name of Water Fall
Average discharge
(Litre/s)
Electrical power
(kW)
Annual energy production
(kWh)
Sailopropat, Banderban 100 5 43 800
Madhobkundu, Moulvibazar 150 15 131 400
Source: Institute of Fuel Research Development (IFRD) of Bangladesh council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR)
Note: Sites identified by Institute of Fuel Research Development
250