Dhaka, Jan. 13 -- The first unit of 1320 MW Payra coal-fired power plant went into test operation today.

"The plant is now generating 100MW power . . . the production will go up to 660MW when it will go into full operation," said a power division official.

The unit, put into operation utilising the 400 kV Payra-Gopalganj power transmission, was commissioned on December 31 for evacuating power from the

power plant, said the official.

The plant is being developed by Bangladesh China Power Company (BCPCL); a 50:50 joint venture between China National Machinery Import and Export (CMC)

and Bangladesh's state-owned North-West Power Generation Company (NWPGCL).

The $2bn Payra power project is financed through 30 percent equity investment p...