Current Status: Planning
Representational Photo: (Dhaka Tribune)
Matarbari 600 MW Power Plant, is an announced power plant situated in Dhalghata and Matarbari Union in Maheshkhali Upazila, Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh (Location: 21.72808, 91.88958) probable. It has been sponsored by a joint venture of Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) and Mitsui & Co. Ltd, Japan with 50% share each. The power plant is looking for an institution for its feasibility study and ESIA report and is scheduled to be in commercial operation in June 2028.
Capacity
The installed capacity of the power plant will be between 587 MW.
Context
Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) and Japanese firm Mitsui & Company Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 8 November 2017 to build a 500-600 MW combined cycle LNG-based power plant in Dhaka (Rasel, 2017). The joint venture would be a 50-50 partnership between the two companies, and they aim to finalize the project by the year 2021 (TDS, 2017).
On 7 February 2019, CPGCBL signed an agreement with Environmental Resource Management (ERM), Japan, to conduct the project's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Tokyo Electric Power Services Company Limited (TEPSCO) bagged the consultancy for a feasibility study on 27 February 2019. According to the CPGCBL Annual Report 2021, the feasibility study was completed, and the ESIA study was in process (CPGCBL, 2021).
Land Acquisition
No information has been disclosed regarding the land acquisition of the power plant.
Finance
No information has been disclosed regarding the finances of the power plant.
Sponsor
The power plant is sponsored by a joint venture of Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) and Mitsui & Co. Ltd, Japan with 50% share each.
Contractors
Mitsui and Company Private Limited (Japan) will work as the contractor of the power plant.
Fuel Supply
Imported Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) will be used as the fuel of the power plant.
Power Generation
The plant is not in generation yet.
Environment
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a fossil fuel primarily composed of methane, with the potential inclusion of other hydrocarbons. When utilized for power generation, it emits various harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM). These emissions pose risks to human health and contribute to air pollution. According to Section 12 of the 1995 Bangladesh Environment Protection Act, industrial facilities, including those causing pollution like power plants, are mandated to undergo both an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as outlined in the 2017 Environmental Conservation Rules (MOLJPA 1995; MOEFCC 1997). As of 2021, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study was in progress for this power plant. Given its fossil fuel nature (LNG), the carbon emissions need consideration, and implementing a carbon tax is advisable. Transitioning from LNG to renewable energy is recommended for a more sustainable approach. According to the environmental conservation rule 2023 the project falls in the “Red” indicating it as a potential harmful project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023).
References
BPDB (2024). ‘Power Sector Progress Report’. Bangladesh Power Development Board: 15 May 2024
CPGCBL (2021). ‘Annual Report-2021’. Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL): 27 December 2021
MOEFCC (1997). ‘The Environmental Conservation Rules. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC)’: 27 August 1997
MOEFCC (2023). “The Environmental Conservation Rules”. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC): 5 March 2023
MOLJPA (1995). ‘Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995’. Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MOLJPA): 16 February 1995.
Rasel (2017). “Mitsui to build LNG power plant in Matarbari”. Dhaka Tribune: 09 November 2017
TDS (2017). “Joint venture to produce 600MW in Matarbari”. The Daily Star (TDS): 10 November 2017