According to the project summary, the Japanese development agency, JICA, will bear US$3.7 billion of the total cost, while the government will contribute $527.4 million. The company implementing the project - Coal Power Generation - will provide $259.2 million, the summary says. The 'Matarbari 2x600 Megawatt Ultr
According to the project summary, the Japanese development agency, JICA, will bear US$3.7 billion of the total cost, while the government will contribute $527.4 million.
The company implementing the project - Coal Power Generation - will provide $259.2 million, the summary says.
The 'Matarbari 2x600 Megawatt Ultra Super Critical Coal Fired Power Project' was approved at an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The government's latest move follows last year's foundation-laying of a 1320 MW coal-fired plant, to be jointly built with India at Rampal, near the Sundarbans, despite strong protests from environmentalists.
The High Court, in February, had issued a rule asking why an order would not be given to stop the government from building the power plant at Maheshkhali Upazila, an island near Cox's Bazar.
The project summary describes it as the 'most valued development project in the country's history'.
It said the project at the Upazila's Matarbari and Dhalghata would begin this year and end in October, 2023.
Almost 75 percent of the power in Bangladesh is produced from gas, while coal accounts for less than three percent. The government plans to notch this up to nearly 50 percent by 2030.
The summary says 'ultra-supercritical technology' will be used in the Matarbari plant to attain 41.9 percent efficiency.
At present, no thermal power plant in Bangladesh has an efficiency level over 34 percent.
“With this high-efficiency technology will require less coal and there will be lower carbon-dioxide emission, reducing air pollution and the impact on environment,” it claimed.
Ocean water will be used for steam and cooling the plant, a first in Bangladesh.
The machinery for the plant are costly because of the advanced technology but sub-bituminous coal will make the power more affordable.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said two more power plants will be set up at the project site in future along with an LNG terminal.