Environmental activists on Saturday accused the government of weakening environmental protection laws and relaxing air pollution standards to facilitate the proposed North Dhaka 42.5 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Project, warning that it would impose long-term economic, environmental and public health costs while delivering limited electricity.
The allegations were made at a press conference in the capital jointly organised by the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED) and the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
Describing the Tk 57.45 billion (US$467 million) project as one of the country's most expensive and environmentally harmful power projects, CLEAN Chief Executive Hasan Mehedi said a joint investigation found it would emit an estimated 411,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
At full capacity, he said, the incinerator would release 73,576 tonnes of ash and ultrafine particulates, 39.56 tonnes of toxic substances�"including heavy metals, dioxins and furans�"and
1.17 tonnes of harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride each year, increasing the risks of cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
The organisations alleged that the government plans to relax environmental standards and reduce the mandatory incineration temperature from 1,000°C to 850°C to accommodate technical limitations of the implementing company, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), calling the move contrary to the public interest.
They also questioned the project's financial viability, saying the plant would generate only 42.5 MW of electricity despite its high cost. Under the agreement, the government would purchase electricity at around Tk 26.79 per unit at an 85 per cent plant load factor, while the tariff could rise to Tk 47-75 per unit if generation declines. It would also have to pay around Tk 7.24 billion annually in capacity charges.
The organisations said the agreement requires Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to supply 3,000 tonnes of waste daily. As DNCC currently generates only about 2,750 tonnes, it would have to pay a penalty of US$50 for every tonne of waste shortfall, creating a disincentive for waste reduction and recycling, they argued.
The activists also expressed concern over land acquisition and livelihoods, alleging that 30 acres of land, including 10 acres from local owners, were acquired without adequate compensation. They said the project threatens the livelihoods of around 2,000 waste pickers, although only 40 have been included in the rehabilitation plan.
Monwar Hossain urged the government to scrap the project and instead invest in waste segregation, recycling, composting and renewable energy.
The organisations also questioned the project's financing, saying the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) are each providing US$100 million in loans, while CMEC is investing US$157 million. They alleged that the source of the remaining US$110 million has not been disclosed publicly.
BELA Policy Coordinator Barish Hasan Chowdhury urged AIIB and NDB to withdraw their support, saying continued investment in such an expensive and polluting project contradicts Bangladesh's renewable energy goals.
Waste picker Kulsum Begum said thousands of people depend on waste collection for their livelihoods and feared many would lose their jobs if the project proceeds. Resident Sohel Ahmed Babu alleged that affected landowners had not received fair compensation and called for justice.
The organisations placed a seven-point demand, including cancellation of the project, greater investment in recycling and renewable energy, rehabilitation of all affected waste pickers, fair compensation for landowners, and withdrawal of international financing.
