Chittagong Port Signs Deal for 8.42 MW Rooftop Solar Plant, Expects Tk 1 Billion in Power Savings Over 20 Years

How the deal works

The Chittagong Port Authority has signed an agreement to install an 8.42-megawatt rooftop solar power plant under its Green Port Initiative. The aim is to cut electricity costs and reduce the port’s reliance on the national grid.

The agreement was signed on Monday, 19 October 2026, at the port’s One-Stop Service Centre with Greener Garments Initiative Ltd (GGI). Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman signed for the authority, and GGI’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohammad Nure Alam, signed for the company.

GGI will finance and implement the project under an operating expense (OPEX) model, in line with government directives. The port authority needs no initial capital investment or funding. GGI will handle design, equipment procurement, construction, testing, operation and maintenance.

The port will buy the electricity at a predetermined rate fixed in the agreement. The plant will supply power for 20 years from the start of commercial operations. It will meet part of the port’s daily electricity needs.

Expected savings

Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said the project gives the port an alternative source of electricity and eases pressure on the national grid. He said the port expects to save about Tk 1 billion on electricity bills over the next 20 years.

Climate goals

The authority said the project supports renewable energy and contributes to carbon credit goals, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

Why it matters

Chattogram handles most of Bangladesh’s container trade, so even a partial shift to rooftop solar cuts operating costs and emissions at the country’s main gateway. The third-party OPEX model also shows how a port can add renewable capacity without spending its own capital. The plant will supply only a part of the port’s needs, and the savings depend on the fixed tariff holding for 20 years.