Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today stressed the need for efficient use of existing energy infrastructures, transparency and accountability in project management, regular maintenance and a long-term integrated energy plan to ensure the country’s power and energy security, says BSS report.
“Alongside meeting the country’s growing electricity demand, we must diversify our energy sources. Economic viability, environmental impact and the long-term interests of the people must be given the highest priority in power generation and the operation of large-scale infrastructure,” he said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks after getting a detailed briefing on the overall activities of the 1,200-megawatt Matarbari Ultra-Supercritical Coal-Fired Power Plant in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar during his visit this morning.
The Prime Minister landed at the helipad of the Matarbari Power Plant at 10:45am and later went to the project’s administrative building, said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque.
Tarique Rahman underscored the importance of integrated development of power, energy, deep-sea port and related industrial infrastructure centring Matarbari, saying that their planned and effective utilisation would play a significant role in ensuring energy security, accelerating industrialisation and boosting overall economic activities.
Earlier, from 11:00am to 12:15pm, the Prime Minister was briefed extensively on the project’s overall operations before giving the directives.
Officials concerned apprised the Prime Minister of the current status of the power plant, electricity generation and operational activities, production capacity, fuel supply and management, operational efficiency, maintenance, safety measures and related infrastructure as well as future development plans of the project.
The Prime Minister was informed that the Matarbari power plant is being operated entirely by local engineers and manpower. Expressing satisfaction, he praised the skills and capabilities of the local engineers and workers and encouraged them to continue their efforts.
The Matarbari power plant has a total generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts through two 600MW units and uses modern ultra-supercritical technology.
Besides the power plant, the project includes port facilities for coal transportation, transmission lines, access roads and other supporting infrastructure. The project has been implemented with loan assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
After the briefing, the Prime Minister visited different facilities of the project and inspected several proposed project sites. He planted a neem sapling in the project area.
At around 12:25pm, he left to inspect the site of a proposed 70MW solar power project and reached there at 12:29pm. Officials briefed him on the project’s plan and potential generation capacity.
He was also shown the designated sites for a proposed LNG-based power plant, a petrochemical project and a new refinery in the area.
Later, the Prime Minister inspected infrastructure related to LPG, LNG and coal terminals, as well as other proposed project sites. Officials briefed him on the plans and infrastructure requirements of those projects.
He also visited the proposed site for a temporary LPG jetty and the locations earmarked for future Units-3 and 4 of coal-fired power plants, where officials presented the proposed development plans.
The Prime Minister further inspected the coal jetty and observed the Matarbari deep-sea port, LNG terminal and various facilities of the power plant.
He was briefed on the port infrastructure used for coal transportation and unloading and its integrated operation with the power plant.
After completing the inspection of the Matarbari project and the proposed project areas, the Prime Minister left for Banshkhali by helicopter at 1:05pm.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud, State Minister for Power and Energy Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Special Political Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha and other senior officials accompanied the Prime Minister.