Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday stressed the maximum and efficient use of existing infrastructure to strengthen Bangladesh’s power and energy security, alongside ensuring transparency and accountability in project management, regular maintenance and long-term integrated energy planning.
He also emphasised the need to diversify energy sources to meet the country’s growing electricity demand, while giving the highest priority to economic viability, environmental impacts and the long-term interests of the people in power generation and the management of large-scale infrastructure.
The Prime Minister made the remarks during a visit to the 1,200MW Matarbari Ultra-Supercritical Coal-Fired Power Plant in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
He also stressed integrated development of power and energy facilities, the deep-sea port and related industrial infrastructure centring on Matarbari, saying their planned and efficient utilisation will play an important role in ensuring energy security, promoting industrialisation and expanding overall economic activities.
Tarique Rahman arrived at the power plant’s helipad by helicopter at 10:45am and later went to the project’s administrative building.
From 11:00am to 12:15pm, he received a detailed briefing on the overall activities of the project. Officials briefed him on the plant’s current status, power generation and operations, generation capacity, fuel supply and management, operational efficiency, maintenance, safety measures and related infrastructure.
They also apprised the Prime Minister of the project’s future plans.
During the briefing, he was informed that the power plant is being operated entirely by Bangladeshi engineers and manpower.
Tarique Rahman expressed satisfaction at this and praised the skills and capabilities of the local engineers and employees, encouraging them in their work. He also planted a neem sapling on the project premises.
The Matarbari power plant consists of two 600MW units, with a total generation capacity of 1,200MW. The plant uses modern ultra-supercritical technology.
The project includes the power plant, port facilities for coal transportation, transmission lines, access roads and other related infrastructure. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided loan assistance for implementation of the project.
After the briefing, the Prime Minister visited different facilities of the project and proposed project sites.
At 12:25pm, he left for the proposed 70MW solar power plant site and arrived there at 12:29pm. Officials briefed him on the proposed solar project, including its plan and potential generation capacity.
Tarique Rahman was also shown the sites earmarked for a proposed LNG-based power plant, a petrochemical project and a new refinery.
He subsequently inspected infrastructure related to LPG, LNG and coal terminals and proposed project areas. He sought detailed information from officials on the plans and future use of the facilities and gave directives on various issues.
The Prime Minister later visited the coal jetty, from where he observed the Matarbari deep-sea port, LNG terminal and different facilities of the power plant.
Officials briefed him on the port infrastructure required for transportation and unloading of coal and its integrated operation with the power plant.
Tarique Rahman also visited the proposed temporary LPG jetty and sites earmarked for the future construction of Units 3 and 4 of the coal-fired power plant.
Officials briefed him on the proposed plans and infrastructure requirements for the projects.
The Prime Minister completed his inspection of the project facilities and proposed sites around 12:55pm before leaving for the helipad.
The Matarbari project is aimed at increasing stable electricity supply and strengthening the country’s energy security. The port for coal transportation, transmission lines, access roads and other related infrastructure are key components of the large-scale project.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, State Minister Aninda Islam Amit, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Shamsul Islam, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Special Political Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha, among others, accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
Tarique Rahman left Matarbari by helicopter at 1:05pm after completing the visit.