Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury on Thursday expressed the government’s strong stance on implementation of the 1320 MW Rampal coal-fired power plant near the Sundarbans under joint venture with neighbouring India.
“We must implement the Rampal coal-fired power plant. We heard from environmentalists and took mitigation measures to address environmental concerns,” he said at a press briefing at Bidyut Bhaban in the city. The briefing was arranged on Prime Minister’s Saturday’s scheduled programme to inaugurate newly built 412 MW Haripur power plant and foundation laying of a 335 MW power plant at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj.
State-owned Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) is implementing the two largest power projects in the public sector. The statement from PM’s Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi makes it clear that the government will not retreat from the Rampal project whatever the environmentalists say about the coal-fired project in a site only 12-15 kms off the Sundarbans, a world heritage site.
The Department of Environment recently approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study on Rampal power plant project that sparked widespread criticism from the country’s leading environment organizations and also environment experts. The Oil-Gas, Port-Power Protection Committee, a social organisation, already announced an action programme protesting the government’s move.
Responding to a question on the issue, Dr. Tawfiq said the government has taken a moderate way on the project. “This project must be implemented,” he said suggesting all to gather more knowledge on coal-fired power pant. Criticising the protesters, he said: “I am also an environmentalist.”
Presenting data on government’s various steps on the improvement of power supply situation, the PM’s Advisor said so far, power generation reached 7000 MW and the generation will go up to 9,000 when the present government is due to leave office in next six months.
About import of electricity from India, he said Bangladesh will get 500MW electricity from October this year. Some 250MW will come from Indian government while the rest 250MW will be imported from Indian private company PTC. A letter of intent (LOI) was already issued to PTC, Tawfiq-e-Elahi mentioned.
EGCB managing director Mostafa Kamal said his organization has been implementing the 412MW Haripur combined cycle power project with Japanese donor JICA’s funding of about US$ 400 million while 335MW Siddhirganj combined cycle power plants is being implemented with funding from the World Bank and the government’s own fund.
He mentioned that the Haripur plant will be able to start operation from September this year. But its full-swing operation needs more time as the project’s gas pipeline is yet to be ready to supply required gas. Mostafa Kamal said power production from the project will cost Tk 1.70 per unit. State Minister for Power and Energy Mohammad Enamul Haque and additional power secretary Tapos Roy also spoke at the briefing. -UNB
