Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday stressed the maximum and efficient use of existing infrastructure to strengthen Bangladesh’s power and energy security, alongside ensuring transparency and accountability in project management, regular maintenance and long-term integrated energy planning.

He also emphasised diversifying energy sources to meet the country’s growing electricity demand, while giving priority to economic viability, environmental impacts and the long-term interests of the people in power generation and the management of large-scale infrastructure.

The Prime Minister made the remarks during a visit to the 1,200MW Matarbari Ultra-Supercritical Coal-Fired Power Plant in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar.

He stressed the integrated development of power and energy facilities, the deep-sea port and related industrial infrastructure centred on Matarbari, saying their planned and efficient use would play an important role in ensuring energy security, promoting industrialisation and expanding overall economic activities.

Tarique arrived at the power plant’s helipad by helicopter at 10:45am and later went to the project’s administrative building.

From 11:00am to 12:15pm, he received a detailed briefing on the overall activities of the project. Officials briefed him on the plant’s current status, power generation and operations, generation capacity, fuel supply and management, operational efficiency, maintenance, safety measures, related infrastructure and future plans.

During the briefing, the Prime Minister was informed that the power plant is being operated entirely by Bangladeshi engineers and other local personnel.

Tarique expressed satisfaction with the development and praised the skills and capabilities of the local engineers and employees, encouraging them in their work. He also planted a neem sapling on the project premises.

The Matarbari power plant consists of two 600MW units, giving it a total generation capacity of 1,200MW. It uses modern ultra-supercritical technology.

The project includes the power plant, port facilities for coal transportation, transmission lines, access roads and other related infrastructure. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided loan assistance for its implementation.

After the briefing, the Prime Minister visited various project facilities and proposed project sites.

At 12:25pm, he left for the proposed 70MW solar power plant site and arrived there at 12:29pm. Officials briefed him on the proposed solar project, including its plans and potential generation capacity.

He was also shown sites earmarked for a proposed LNG-based power plant, a petrochemical project and a new refinery. He subsequently inspected infrastructure related to LPG, LNG and coal terminals, as well as proposed project areas.

The Prime Minister sought detailed information from officials about the plans and future use of the facilities and issued directives on various issues.

He later visited the coal jetty, from where he observed the Matarbari deep-sea port, LNG terminal and different facilities of the power plant.

Officials briefed him on the port infrastructure required for the transportation and unloading of coal and its integrated operation with the power plant.

Tarique also visited the proposed temporary LPG jetty and sites earmarked for the future construction of Units 3 and 4 of the coal-fired power plant. Officials briefed him on the proposed plans and infrastructure requirements for the projects.

The Prime Minister completed his inspection of the project facilities and proposed sites at around 12:55pm before leaving for the helipad.

The Matarbari project is aimed at ensuring a stable electricity supply and strengthening Bangladesh’s energy security. Its coal transportation port, transmission lines, access roads and other related infrastructure are key components of the large-scale project.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, State Minister Aninda Islam Amit, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Shamsul Islam, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Special Political Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha, among others, accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.

Tarique left Matarbari by helicopter at 1:05pm after completing the visit.