Country’s eminent energy expert Dr M Tamim on Saturday suggested the government to focus on one particular site to set up import-based coal-fired power plants considering different economic and geo-environmental aspects.
“I would suggest the government to go for one specific location, instead of so many places, for coal-fired power plants,” he said, making deliberations on the country’s power sector at the UNB district correspondents’ conference at Cosmos Centre in the city.
Dr Tamim, a professor and head of the Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and a special assistant to the Chief Adviser of the last caretaker government adviser, mentioned that Japanese donor agency JICA has been conducting study for Maheshkhali to set up a power plant.
Pointing out infrastructure as the biggest challenge for coal-fired power plants, he said Maheshkhali, a place located in the country’s east-coast, would be very suitable for transportation of imported coal as required infrastructure would be easy to build there.
Power can easily be transmitted from Maheshkhali to elsewhere in the country, he added.
Dr Tamim said Maheshkhali, a place with enough navigation depth for movement of deep-sea vessels, could be the best location for the development of a hub of coal-fired power plants of about 4000 MW. But Rampal in Bagerhat, the place for the government has initiated move to build a 1320 MW coal-fired plant, does not have such facility.
Rampal plant will need to consume 10,000 tons of imported coal everyday, for which transportation will be a big challenge as big vessels will not go to the project. Rather, the river channel to be used for transportation will require 3-4 times dredging every year. “This will definitely push up the power cost.”
“Rampal will need US$ 2 billion, a big challenge for the government to mobilize such huge fund,” he observed saying that the environmental impact at Maheshkhali will be lesser than in any other place.
The energy expert also suggested setting up mine-mouth coal-fired power plants as second option as this will not require much investment for creating infrastructures.
Arguing the coal-fired electricity as better and cheaper option for Bangladesh after gas-fired power, he said power production cost is going up day by day for the government’s move for liquid-fuel based-power plants.
Dr Tamim observed that there is little progress on the ground on coal-fired power plant projects for which the government signed contracts with private investors.
Average generation cost of each kilowatt electricity was Tk 2.05 in 2006 which has now gone up to Tk 6.50 for liquid fuel use, he said adding that the government is considering import of liquefied natural gas (LNG). “But this would further push up the production cost as each unit of gas will cost about 15 dollar while the present gas price is only about 2 dollar.”
“I don’t know how could this imported costly liquid gas would be delivered and to whom,” he said.
About the government’s move for setting up nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Ishwardi, the BUET professor said this project involves a huge risk as there are two major challenges there. First, the location is densely populated and secondly, this location is situated on an underground fault, prone to earthquake.
Urging the government to move for taking more programmes for hydrocarbon explorations by both international oil companies (IOCs) and state-owned Bapex, he said the explorations are not taking place as per requirements of the country. As a result, the country could not be able to make big success in exploration.
Bapex has discovered only 200 bcf of gas in last 8 years while the most discoveries were made by the IOCs, he said. “Both IOCs and Bapex should be utilized for offshore and onshore exploration.”
About the renewable energy use in the country, Dr Tamim said this energy has some limitations as this is very costly and land-intensive.
Source: UNBConnect
Authorities concerned should seriously examine the suggestions made here. While doing so, they should not forget to bear in mind the the benefit of the people and the sustainability of the project. Dr. S.M. Jalil.