Dr Yunus to visit Matarbari Coal Power Plant, MIDA activities on Aug 25
Md. Ramjan Ali, Moheshkhali-Kutubdia (Cox's Bazar)
With the aim of establishing industrial installations, electricity, transportation, land management, and infrastructural development, the government formed the Moheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA).recently.
MIDA has already begun work to coordinate various ongoing development projects in the Moheshkhali-Matarbari region under a single authority, aiming to develop the coastal area as an industrial and commercial centre.
Activities will soon begin on a large scale to develop Matarbari as a hub for electricity, energy, and logistics alongside the deep-sea port.
The MIDA has been established to give a new dimension to the development activities that have started in parts of Moheshkhali and Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar. The newly formed agency has appointed Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Board, as its chairman.
Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus will visit Moheshkhali to see the activities in the area under the MIDA on August 25.
Accompanying him will be Maritime Transport Advisor Brigadier (Retd.) Dr. Sakawat Hossain, Electricity and Energy Advisor Fawzul Kabir Khan, along with several other advisors to the Chief Advisor. MIDA Chairman Ashik Chowdhury will present the future plans for the Moheshkhali and Kutubdia regions to the visitors.
The government will establish several hubs in the coastal areas of Moheshkhali and Kutubdia. These will include a primary hub for ports and logistics, an industrial and manufacturing hub, an electricity and energy hub, and a hub for fish harvesting, processing, and marketing. A modern township hub will also be developed as a supportive hub.
The development activities that began with the construction of the 1200 megawatt coal power plant in Matarbari have already turned into a massive undertaking. Japan's JICA provides technical and financial assistance for this power plant. Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) is managing this power plant. This 1200 megawatt plant will need to burn 10,000 tons of coal daily. At least 600,000 tons of coal must be stored at this plant for two months' requirements. To supply the necessary fuel for the power plant, at least 300,000 tons of coal must be imported from abroad every month. Even though each ship transports 60,000 tons of coal, at least 5 mother vessels must be handled for this power plant each month.
To create the necessary infrastructure for the equipment and coal import for the Matarbari power plant, a 14.3-kilometre long channel had to be constructed. This channel, 250 meters wide and 16 meters deep, is used to import the necessary equipment and a large amount of coal for the coal power plant.
If the channel, which is 14.3 kilometers long, 16 meters deep, and 250 meters wide, is widened by 100 meters to 350 meters and the depth is increased by 2 meters to 18 meters, it will be used as a deep-sea port.
Stakeholders said the visit of Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to the Moheshkhali and Kutubdia region will bring a new dimension to the action plan for the development activities of the entire area.
