Two Japanese firms to submit bidding documents today

Two Japanese bidders are set to submit request for proposal  (RFP) today (Tuesday) for construction of Matarbari power plant that was suspended, citing security reasons following terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in the city's Gulshan area in July last year, killing 20 nationals including seven Japanese.
"Officials of Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni Corporation are now in Dhaka, we are hopeful that the Japanese bidders will be able to submit their' tender documents this time,"   Abul Quasem, managing director of the Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCBL) told the Daily Observer on Monday.
CPGCBL selected Japanese bidders-Marubeni Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation- following their submission of expression of interest (IOE). But they did not like to visit Bangladesh after the café attack.
The killing of seven Japanese citizens in the attack on July 1 has acted as a big blow for the project, as the Japanese firms became unwilling to stay and work in Bangladesh after the incident. They initially urged the CPGCBL to suspend the bidding process until the security situation is improved to a "satisfactory level.
"The tender process for  Matarbari 2X600MW Ultra Super Critical Coal- Fired Power Plant, the country's largest coal-fired power plant, has been put on hold as the Japanese contractors are unwilling to visit Bangladesh on security grounds, and due to that the Power Division deferred the RFP submission date to on July 24, August 24, and finally on or before January 31. But now we are hopeful over the fate of this project," a senior official of the Power Division said.
We extended the time in consultation with the Japanese bidders and undertook measures to remove their concerns over security, Abul Quasem, managing director of the CPGCBL, said.
Japanese donor agency-Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-has been financing the mega project of 1200 MW of power plant with a financial loan support of $3.7 billion at an annual interest rate of 0.1 percent over 30 years, also having an initial ten-year grace period.
To ensure safety and security of Japanese nationals, Japanese contractor had earlier demanded deployment of navy personnel at Matarbari power project site along with personal security for all foreigners engaged there.
Sources said the Japanese are returning with some tough conditions, which includes VIP security for all their officials. However, Bangladesh accepted all its pleas.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June, 2023. The power plant will possess 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 deepsea port near the plant for handling coal imports for the plant.
"The Japanese government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are now confident over the security situation here. If thinks are going on the right track, there is no question of further delay in the project work. The Japanese bidders assured us that they would to submit the bidding documents by this month," Md Abul Quasem, the managing director of CPGCBL said.
The government expects to commence electricity generation from the plant in December 2022. It will also spend Tk 237.21 crore for acquiring 1414.65 acres of land for the plant. At least one member of the every affected family will get job at the plant, he added.
When talking on the security issue, Hitoshi Tabara, a consultant for the Matarbari ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant, said, "Bangladesh is 99.9 percent safe and secure for visiting and working of foreign nationals."
He said the Bangladesh government has taken serious measures against the terrorists after the Gulshan attack.
Hitoshi Tabara is working at the Matarbari power project in Cox's Bazar along with other 60 Japanese.