Best tech to be used in Rampal plant: Adviser

UNB, Dhaka :
Amid the growing environmental concerns, Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury on Sunday said the government will use the best possible technologies in the Rampal 1320MW coal-fired power plant.
“Now ultra-super technologies are being applied in the developed countries’
coal-fired power plant. We’re looking for the same technologies to address environmental concerns,” he said while addressing at the seminar on coal fired power plant technology at Bidyut Bhaban in the city.
Power Division organised the seminar, titled ‘Coal-fired Power Generation in Bangladesh: World’s Best Practice’, with power secretary Monowar Islam in the chair. State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid also spoke at the seminar.
Dr Anzuman Islam Kankon and Kazi Ahmed Parvez made a joint presentation on the topic while BUET’s Prof Ijaz Ahmed, Prof Dil Afroz, directors of Environmental Department Sultan Ahmed and Rafiq Ahmed took part in the discussion. Bangladesh and India are jointly implementing the Rampal Power Plant project amid protest by local environmentalists fearing that it may harm the Sundarbans, a world heritage declared by the United Nations. About the environmental concerns, the energy adviser said the government will follow the world’s best practices to address the environmental issues like carbon dioxide emission.
He said, the Prime Minister has put the project in the list of top priority project which will be implemented on a first track basis.
Speaking on the occasion, State Minister Nasrul Hamid said the government will arrange more discussions to involve the mass people in the project, and assured of do everything possible to address their environmental concerns. Sultan Ahmed said the environmental assessment of the Rampal project has been conducted and now the follow-up actions should be taken to meet the compliance issues. The other speakers at the seminar said there is no option for Bangladesh to go for coal-fired power plant as other fuel options are very costly. “But, the technology must be the latest one to check pollution and emission,” said Prof Izaj Ahmed.