Construction work of 5 power plants progressing fast at Matarbari

As the government is go ahead with a pan to ensure energy security of the country, authorities have sped up the process of setting up five power plants having a total generation capacity 3,800MW at Matarbari.

"As there is a plan to turn Matarbari into a power hub, the government has taken steps to set up a port and a LNG terminal there for facilitating easy transportation of coal and LNG to run the power plants there," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS here today.

He said the power plant projects will be implemented either in public sector or in joint venture with reputed foreign companies as part of the Power System Master Plan 2016 of the government.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also given priority to the power and energy sector as it is an important component for industrialization as well as for the country's socio-economic development," said Nasrul Hamid.

As par several deals to set up power plants at Matarbari between 2024 and 2029, according to the Power Division officials. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is financing major portion of those projects at Matarbari, an island Upazila of Moheshkhali.

Initial works of a two-unit power plant, each having a capacity 600 MW, is going on in the project site of Matarbari. Civil works, including building jetty and channel, construction of power plant boiler (EPC part), setting up of power plant turbine and generator (EPC part), and coal and ash management (EPC part) system are progressing there.

Talking to BSS, Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain said the government's initiative of turning Matarbari into a power hub will spur socio-economic development not only in the area but in the entire country as well.

He said the coal-fired power projects in Matarbari are based on an Ultra Super Critical Technology (USCT), which have 41.99 percent energy efficiency against the average 34 percent efficiency.

He said state-owned Coal Power Generation Company (CPGCBL) signed a deal with Japanese consortium of Sumitomo Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and IHI Corporation to construct the coal-fired plant with a generation capacity of 1200MW.

The first unit having a generation capacity of 600 MW of Matarbari 1200MW power plant is expected to come into operation in January, 2024 and the second unit in July, 2024.

Construction of another three Joint Venture coal-based power plants with a total generation capacity of 2500MW will be completed for commercial operation from June 2028 to June 2029, the DG Power Cell said.

CPGCBL and Sumitomo, CPGCBL and Sembcorp, Singapore and CPGCBL and Mitsui, Japan will implement the power projects. Besides, the government has also taken an initiative to install a solar power plant with a 100MW generation capacity at Matarbari area aiming to increase green energy share there, he said.

"Access to quality and reliable electricity is no more a dream as the country's 98 percent people are now getting uninterrupted supply of power, which was only 47 percent before 2009," said state minister Nasrul Hamid.

He said currently the country's power generation capacity reaches 23,548 MW and this has been possible due to a bold and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After assuming power in 2009, the government formulated a roadmap for the power and energy sector declaring it as a thrust sector with an aim to reach power every house by 2021.