Security concerns delay Matarbari bidding

Closing of bidding to build a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant and other facilities at Matarbari of Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar, has been suspended as the officials of two bidders of Japan are unwilling to visit Bangladesh right now, said officials.


Officials of Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni Corporation of Japan, two shortlisted companies for bidding for the power project, became hesitant in visiting Bangladesh after the killing of 17 foreigners including seven Japanese by the extremists at a café in Gulshan on July 1, they said.


The state-run Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited, which owns the power plant project, deferred the date of bid submission from July 24 to August 24, CPGCBL managing director Md Abul Quasem said.


Gulshan attack was one of the reasons for deferring the date of bid submission, he said.
Last year, CPGCBL, owner of Matarbari thermal power plant project, short-listed Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni Corporation of Japan and set July 24 to submit their bids for building the coal-fired power plant as well as other infrastructures including a small deep sea port for receiving imported coal from vessels.


Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to fund the power project.