Coal shortage halts power production at Matarbari Plant in Cox‍‍`s Bazar

The coal-powered electricity plant Matarbari in Maheshkhali, Cox‍‍`s Bazar, has stopped generating power due to a shortage of coal.

This situation has left many wondering when the plant will be able to start operating again. 

The plant, which can produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity, relies entirely on imported coal, and right now, that supply has run dry.

The last shipment of coal from Sumitomo Corporation arrived in mid-August. 

One of the plant‍‍`s units began operations in July 2023, while the other started in December. 

So far, about 2.2 million tons of coal have been brought in from Japan for electricity generation, but that stockpile is completely gone.

Mohammad Monwar Hossain Majumdar, who oversees operations at the Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited, mentioned that they expect new coal supplies to arrive by the end of November. 

Until then, the power plant will remain closed, creating a challenging situation for electricity availability in the region.

The problem is worsened by financial issues affecting Bangladesh‍‍`s ability to pay for electricity from Adani, a large Indian company.

Due to economic difficulties, Bangladesh has fallen behind on its electricity bills, totaling around $886 million (about 10,350 crore taka). 

As a result, Adani has cut its electricity supply to Bangladesh by half, forcing one of the Maheshkhali plant’s units to shut down.

Read More: Bangladesh faces power supply cuts due to unpaid bills to Adani

Because of these combined challenges, the country‍‍`s electricity production has dropped significantly. 

Following the closure of a 700 megawatt unit on October 31, load shedding has increased, leading to power outages of nearly 1,500 megawatts across the country. 

This not only disrupts daily life for families but also puts a strain on businesses that depend on a steady power supply.

As Bangladesh grapples with this energy crisis, there is a pressing need for solutions and alternative energy sources to ensure a more stable future for the nation. 

Many are hopeful that the upcoming coal deliveries will help bring some relief, but until then, the situation remains uncertain.