The Washington-based World Bank (WB) has given a reminder to the government to meet some conditions for obtaining a loan worth US$275 million (27.5 crore) the largest donor agency of the globe committed for power sector development. A mission of the largest development partner is likely to arrive in Dhaka early next month to review the governments preparation for taking the loan.

WB had asked government to prepare a site master plan on power generation centring on Siddhirganj, to appoint a consultant for working on it and finalise project proposals on the proposed 300megawatt (MW) capacity peaking power plant at Siddhirganj. Last year, the Washington-based multilateral donor agency assured the government of providing the $275 million loan to finance an integrated power sector development project. Under the project, two power units with the capacity of 150MW each at Siddhirganj, a power transmission line and a gas supply line will be set up. The total cost of the project will be $400 million. The rest of the project cost will be mobilised by the government from its own sources.

Sources in the Power Division said that the process of appointment of a consultant had already been started and it was expected to complete within a month. The consultant would work with project implementing agencies in the government to prepare the site master plan as well as prepare the tender documents for the foreign-funded integrated project.