The deadline for submission of tender document of Matarbari coal-fired power plant has been extended for a further two months as per decision taken by the officials of the shortlisted bidders and Power Division on Tuesday.
According to the Managing Director of Coal Power Generation Company Limited (CPGCBL) Md Abul Quasem, request for proposal (RFP) by the aspirant bidders of the project could be submitted on or before January 31. This is for the third time the authorities concerned deferred the RFP submission date.
"We extended the date for the last time, we fixed the new date in a meeting with JICA. Japanese ambassador was also present in the meeting preside over by the State minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at the Secretariat," Quasem told the Daily Observer on Thursday.
State Minister Nasrul Hamid made this offer to the Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Hemrmasato Watanabe as the selected bidders are not willing to visit Bangladesh right now due to security grounds. Around 43 Japanese nationals are now working in this project.
Power Division deferred the time twice--on July 24 and on August 24.
Japanese donor agency,Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has been financing the mega project of 1200-MW 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.
"We selected Japanese bidders Marubeni Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation following their submission of expression of interest (IOE). But they did not like to visit Bangladesh right at this moment," the official said.
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 right now on security grounds, according to a Japanese daily news report.
Earlier, the Japan Times reported that the tender process has been stopped due to security reasons in the wake of Gulshan terror attack. As many as 20 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed on July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery. Seven Japanese nationals were among those killed. They were surveyors for the Dhaka Metrorail Project.
To ensure safety and security of Japanese nationals, Japanese contractor had earlier wanted deployment of navy 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.
"We don't know how long the work process would be delayed, we have to wait for at least one month to know the status of the Japanese officials," the official said.
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 deep-sea port near the plant for handling coal imports for the plant.
