The government has decided to cancel six more proposed coal-based power plants. They were supposed to be built at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar. Altogether, the production capacity of these six centers is 7,920 megawatts. This information is known from sources of power department and PDB.
Earlier in June, the government had canceled the construction of 10 coal-based power plants. Among them, there were two centers at Maheshkhali with a capacity of 1,320 MW each. The government had planned to build a total of eight coal-based power plants on Maheshkhali Island. All are being canceled now as construction work has not started. In total, they have a production capacity of 10,560 megawatts. Some of the canceled coal projects will be converted to LNG and renewable energy projects. The government has taken this decision as part of mitigating environmental risks as companies have not started construction despite getting approval for construction of coal-based plants.
PDB has so far acquired 5,518 acres of land at Maheshkhali Island for the construction of eight coal-based plants and one LNG-based plant with a power generation capacity of 3,000 MW. Another 96 acres of land is in process of acquisition. Most of the six plants to be canceled are joint venture projects of the Power Development Board (PDB) with foreign companies.
In a letter signed by PDB Secretary Saiful Islam Azad on October 7, it is said that Bay of Bengal Power Company was supposed to build two coal-based plants of ultra super critical technology among the proposed plants. The company was formed as a joint venture between China Huadian Hong Kong Company and PDB. The power generation capacity of each center is 1 thousand 320 MW. There are also 1,320 MW power plants in a joint venture between Malaysia's Tenega National Berhad and PDB, a 1,320 MW power plant in a joint venture between KEPCO and PDB in South Korea, and a 1,320 MW power plant in a joint venture between SEPCO and PDB in China. MOUs signed by PDB with Tenega National Berhad, KEPCO and SEPCO have not progressed further. Now the government has withdrawn from the construction of these centers.
In the letter given to the power department, it is said that the decision was taken by the government not to implement the power plant construction projects for which the construction work of coal based power plants has not started. In that context, it has been decided not to implement other coal-based projects under PDB's plan in Maheshkhali.
Meanwhile, PDB has opined that instead of the 522 MW power plant project at Mawa in Munshiganj which was canceled last June, a 726 MW gas or LNG based combined cycle power plant construction project can be accepted at Maheshkhali. PDB gave this opinion in view of the proposal of private company Orion Power Dhaka Limited. PDB may lease 30 acres of land to Orion in Maheshkhali for a long term after the power department's decision.
The projects canceled last June are - Patuakhali 1,320 MW coal-based power plant, North Bengal 1,200 MW super thermal power plant, Mawa 522 MW power plant, Dhaka 282 MW power plant, Chittagong 282 MW power plant, Khulna 565 MW power plant, Maheshkhali 1,320 MW power plant , Maheshkhali 1 thousand 320 MW power plant (2), Bangladesh-Singapore 700 MW ultra-super critical power plant, CPGCBL-Sumitomo 1 thousand 200 MW power plant.
A top official of the power department said that even if the coal-based projects are cancelled, there will be no problem in power supply in the country. Coal projects will be replaced with gas, LNG and renewable fuels. Besides, area wise power generation will be given priority.
