Japanese contractors demand security along seafront

Matarbari Power Plant

Japanese contractors of the Matarbari coal-fired power plant have demanded deployment of Navy along the coast of the project site and personal safety for all foreigners engaged in the installation of the power plant.
A JICA team and the contractors have raised their security concern to the managing director and the board members at Matarbari after visiting the project site at Cox's Bazar on Saturday.
They are now visiting the Matarbari to examine the security measures taken up by the government.
"They are now asking for deployment of Navy for ensuring security along the sea front," Abul Quasem, Managing Director of Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCBL), told the Daily Observer on Saturday. The government agreed to set up a security camp at the site but the Japanese are now pressing for ensuring security along the seafront.
Sources said the Japanese are returning with some tough conditions, which includes VIP security for all their officials.
The tender for Matarbari 2X600 MW Ultra Super Critical Coal Fired Power Plant, (USCCFPP), the country's largest coal-fired power plant, has been stopped as the Japanese contractors are unwilling to visit Bangladesh right now on security grounds.
"We are extending the bid submission date by a month as per the directives of the high ups as they have agreed to join the project. But now they raised another fresh issue," an official said.
Toshiba Corporation and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System Ltd were expected to take part in the bidding on July 24 this year, however, they requested the government to delay the process by a month, and last week they apprised the government that they are unwilling to sign it without spot visit, according to the Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCBL).
After negotiations with JICA and potential bidders, the Ministry of Power and Energy has instructed the CPGCBL, an enterprise of the government, to extend the tender submission deadline by another month.
He said that the JICA is yet to convey its decision officially.
The Japan Times reported that the tender process has been stopped due to security reasons in the wake of the Gulshan terror attack.
As many as 20 people, including 17 foreigners were killed in the July 1 attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in the capital.
Seven Japanese nationals were among those killed. They were surveyors for the Dhaka Metrorail Project.
As per schedule the construction work of the country's largest Matarbari 2X600 MW power lant will begin within eight to nine months following the awarding of the tender.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supposed to provide US$3.7 billion for the project. According to sources at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the company will borrow $3.7 billion from JICA at an annual interest rate of 0.1 per cent over the next 30 years, with an initial 10-year grace period.
"Now we don't know how long the project implementation will be delayed. We have to wait at least one more month to know the status of the Japanese officials," the official said.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June of 2023. The power plant will possess the highest thermal efficiency in the world at 41.3 per cent compared to 36 per cent in the USA, 29 per cent in India, the UK and Germany, 38 per cent in France and 40 per cent in Japan. The project also includes a deep-sea port near the plant for handling imported coal, the fuel for the plant.