May 6, 2025
| Special Correspondent
Dhaka: A mass signature contained application has been sent to the Chief Adviser demanding the cancellation of the 635 MW coal-fired power plant proposed by Orion Group in Matarbari. The application has also been sent in copy to all concerned; including the advisers related to the power and environment sectors of Bangladesh, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, and the Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar.
Hasan Mehedi , Executive Director of Clean (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network), confirmed that it would be submitted to the Chief Adviser's Office on Sunday (May 4) afternoon. Clean has informed that more than 1,000 conscious citizens among the local people of Matarbari have spontaneously participated in this mass signature demanding the cancellation of the power plant in the interest of environmental and livelihood security.
The application states that if the power project is implemented, it will have a serious negative impact on the environment, public health, agriculture, forests and the economy. In addition, the previous Bangladesh government has pledged not to approve new coal-based power projects in various international commitments, including COP-26 and the Paris Agreement. The implementation of the power plant will require an additional 5.5 million tons of coal to be imported every year, which will put extreme pressure on the country's foreign exchange.
According to the EIA report of Orion's Matarbari power plant, ultra-supercritical technology will be used in this power plant. As a result, it has been mentioned that the amount of carbon emissions will be reduced. At least 875 grams of carbon is emitted per unit of electricity generated from the world's most modern technology coal-based power plant. Accordingly, this power plant will emit an average of 41 lakh 38 thousand tons per year and 258 crore 62 lakh tons of carbon dioxide in 25 years. The cost of the damage to human health, crops and the environment as a result is estimated to be between Tk. 1100 crore to Tk. 1500 crore per year, according to Clean.
The coal-based power plant is being built by Orion is in direct conflict with the “Three Zeros” policy of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In this context, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Yunus, as the holder of the ‘Zero Carbon’ policy, this project should be immediately canceled and renewable energy projects should be adopted.
Bangladesh signed the first 3 agreements with Orion for coal-based power plants in the private sector in June 2012. According to the agreement, one at Mawa 522 MW, Khulna 282 MW and Chattogram 282 MW coal-based power plants are to be built. Khulna and Chattogram power plants (two) are to go into production in March 2016 and the Mawa 522 MW coal-based power plant is to go into production in July 2016. But even though the talk of going into production has passed for a decade, Orion Group has not been able to start work.
In the second phase, Orion Group was given LOI for three more power plants. These are Dhaka-282 MW, Chattogram 282 MW and Dhaka 635 MW power plants. Only the time has been extended in stages. But Orion failed to ensure the financing. According to the law, the contracts of the power plants are supposed to be cancelled and the security deposit confiscated. But the Awami League has got the upper hand in favor of the government, and it is still going on. After several extensions of time, Orion got approval to move one power plant in Matarbari. It is alleged that the group has taken a huge amount of loan from various banks in Bangladesh by showing those contracts. At one time, there was a rush to give loans from the reserve. Where Payra and Rampal, located in the sea estuary, are struggling to supply coal due to the navigability crisis, Orion has a unique idea of a coal-based power plant in Matarbari. It is rumored that they originally used this strategy to get bank loans.
News Link: Application to the Chief Advisor's Office to cancel Orion's coal-fired power plant