
Against the backdrop of apprehension regarding dual crises in gas and electricity supply, a beacon of hope flickers as the second unit of the Matarbari coal-fired power plant undergoes testing.
This marks a significant step in addressing the prevailing challenges in Bangladesh’s energy sector.
Media reports maintained this even as they cited concerned officials in this regard, according to whom the state-owned Matarbari 1200-megawatt plant has initiated the test run for its second unit, contributing approximately 400 megawatts to the country’s overall electricity generation from coal.
Abul Kalam Azad, the Managing Director of Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCL), announced the commencement of testing on 18th January, expressing optimism about achieving commercial operation status for the second unit by March.
The first unit, with a capacity of around 600 megawatts, commenced commercial electricity generation on 26th December but is currently shut, awaiting a capacity test by the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
Azad dismisses concerns about reported ‘coal scarcity’ as the reason for the first unit’s shutdown, assuring that the plant has sufficient coal in stock.
Once commissioned, the Matarbari coal-fired power plant is expected to bolster Bangladesh’s overall electricity generation capacity from coal. In the context of several coal-fired power plants coming online last year, including those by Adani Power, SS Power plant, Rampal plant, and Barisal Electric, Matarbari’s contribution adds to the nation’s energy landscape.