Matarbari power plant gets fast-track attention

The 1,200-megawatt Matarbari coal-fired power project is set to be included among the fast-track projects following recommendations from the Economic Relations Division.

The final decision will be taken today at the meeting of the fast-track project monitoring committee, to be chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The project will cost Tk 35,984 crore, of which Tk 28,939 crore will be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in loan.

Under the project, two 600MW coal-fired power plants will be set up along with the necessary infrastructure.

Some 1,500 acres of land have already been acquired, with a project consultant to be appointed shortly, as per the ERD progress report.

At present, there are six fast-track projects: Padma bridge, Rooppur nuclear power plant, two 660MW power plants in Rampal, Dhaka Metro Rail, LNG terminal construction project and Sonadia deep-sea port.

ERD will also place a report on these projects at the meeting.

Save for the Padma bridge, the other fast-track projects have not seen much progress, as per the report.

With regards to Sonadia deep-sea port, three countries have submitted their presentations, while another has expressed interest to make its presentation.

A ten-member committee, formed in January last year, led by the prime minister's principal secretary will examine the presentations.

About the LNG terminal, the ERD report said a proposal for signing an agreement between Petrobangla and  Singapore-based Astra Oil & Energy Excelerate Energy Consortium was sent to the cabinet committee on economic affairs in October last year.

However, the committee sent it back in November last year for further examination.

About the Rampal project, the report said works on land filling and boundary walls are ongoing; a financial adviser and human resource consultant will be appointed soon.

The pro-forma invoice for capital dredging in the Pashur river has been sent to the shipping ministry.

As for the Padma bridge, 30 percent of the work for the Jazira approach road has been done and 22 percent for Mawa. The work for the service area has progressed 15 percent, the main bridge construction 1 percent, land acquisition 99 percent and rehabilitation work 65 percent.

About the metro rail, the report said that allocation and acquisition of necessary land for building MRT Line-6 has been made.

In June last year, the work for a geo-technical survey was inaugurated; the detailed design will be completed by July.

Also at today's meeting, the committee will finalise the 11-point guideline to ensure transparency and prevent corruption in the fast-track projects.