Japanese agency may finance Bangladesh coal-fired plants

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is contemplating of financing two coal-fired power plants to be set up in Bangladesh.

JICA is studying different aspects of coal-fired plants including environment, coal import, transportation and power evacuation from the plants,” said a senior official at the Bangladesh's Power Division .

The plants, which the government of Bangladesh plans to set up at Matarbari and South-Maheskhali in Chittagong, each has generation capacity of 600 MW.

Official sources said JICA may finance the projects if the agency finds the sites suitable.

The senior official said the study will conclude in July next year.

“When the study is done, we’ll approach JICA to provide money,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bangladesh has planned to set up 13 coal-fired power plants across the country with 7,800 MW generation capacity by 2015. Coal will be imported to run these plants.

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