Bhola IPP and its Impact on Local Communities: Voices from the ground

Bhola is the only island district of Bangladesh under the administrative division of Barisal in Bangladesh. Mumbai based Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital Company Private Limited (SP Infra), a subsidiary of SP Group is constructing a 220/225 MW Gas and Diesel based power plant through its new company Nutan Bidyut Bangladesh Limited (NBBL) in Kutba area under Burhanuddin Upazila in Bhola. NBBL has received USD 60.00 million from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and signed another agreement for USD 60.00 million from Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED) and CLEAN (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network) in collaboration with NGO Forum on ADB conducted a study on social and environmental impacts of the power plant along with potential violation of national and international standards.