A number of NGOs on Tuesday demanded that the proposed 635 MW coal-fired power plant of Orion Group in Matarbari, Cox's Bazar be scrapped in public interest.

The demand came from Bangladesh Working Group for Environment and Development (BWGED), the Coastal Living and Environment Working Group (CLEAN), Bangladesh Law Society (BELA), Environment and Development Forum (FED), Maheshkhali Janasuraksha Mancha and Sanshptak participated.

Their call was made at a press conference organised  at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.

Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of BWGED, alleged that the proposal to construct Orion’s 635 MW Coal-fired power plant under the controversial law and using outdated coal technology is completely illegal.

It will impose an additional burden of Tk 30.59 billion in capacity charges on the people.

He said that under the controversial Bangladesh's Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act 2010, the government approved Orion Group’s 635 MW coal power project in Gazaria, Munshiganj on 29 September 2013.

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A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was subsequently signed on 21 April 2016 between the Power Development Board (PDB) and Orion Power Unit-2 Dhaka Limited, with a stipulated commissioning deadline of January 2020. 45 months post-signing.

However, failing to commence construction, Orion was advised by PDB in February 2022 to relocate the plant to Matarbari or Maheshkhali, extending the project deadline to December 2026. Claimed Hasan.

He said that despite multiple extensions, the deadline was again pushed in July 2024. This time to December 2030. Civil society previously demanded, along with BWGED, in a press conference on 12 September 2024, that the agreement be scrapped if deadlines continued to be manipulated.