Two security guards were killed during an armed robbery at the Banshkhali Coal-Fired Power Plant, leaving foreign engineers and officials stationed there in a state of fear.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday (2 September), with preparations underway to file a legal case regarding the attack, said Banshkhali Coal-Fired Power Plant Manager Faizul Islam.
"The robbery attempt took place around 2:45am. Due to heavy rainfall, a section of the boundary wall’s soil had eroded, creating a gap through which the robbers attempted to enter. Security guard Russel Parvez, who was on duty, tried to stop them but was stabbed by the robbers. Shortly after, Security Officer Sarwar, a retired senior warrant officer from the army, arrived at the scene. He, too, was attacked and repeatedly stabbed while attempting to apprehend the robbers. Both men were critically injured and were taken to a clinic, where their conditions worsened. They succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital. Their bodies have been sent to Chittagong for post-mortem examination," he added.
Banshkhali power plant, known for its cost-effective coal-based electricity production, plays a critical role in the country's energy sector.
It ranks at the top of the Bangladesh Power Development Board's list of low-cost generation plants.
Fuel cost per unit of electricity at Banshkhali is approximately Tk7.56, whereas the same amount of electricity generated using furnace oil would cost around Tk18.
If the 1,320-megawatt plant operates at full capacity, it can generate electricity worth approximately Tk950 crore per month.
In comparison, producing the same amount of electricity from furnace oil would cost the government an additional 950 crore taka monthly, posing a significant challenge for the interim government. This cost differential is not only a financial burden but also presents technical challenges in sourcing electricity from alternative energy sources.
Situated along the Bay of Bengal in the Gondamara area of Banshkhali, Chattogram, this large power plant is jointly owned by Chinese companies Sepco III and HTG.
The financing for the plant comes from foreign banks, with a Chinese firm serving as the EPC contractor, responsible for the project's operation and maintenance.
Banshkhali power plant is a milestone in the energy sector, setting records as the largest private investment to date and attracting significant foreign investment.
It is also the first major coal-fired power plant to be privately owned in Bangladesh, following two other government-owned plants: the Payra 1,320 MW thermal power plant, a joint venture between the Bangladesh and Chinese governments, and the 1,320 MW Rampal power plant, co-owned by the Bangladesh and Indian governments.
In June 2012, Bangladesh signed its first three agreements for coal-fired power plants in the private sector, all with Orion Group.
However, none of Orion's power plants have commenced production, nor has work begun on them. In contrast, the Banshkhali coal-fired power plant, despite a four-year delay after the initial agreement, began commercial production on 18 September 2023 and continues to supply electricity at competitive rates.
According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board, coal-based electricity is available at less than half the cost of furnace oil-based electricity.
Currently, the fuel cost per unit of coal-based electricity is Tk7.56, compared to Tk18 for furnace oil and approximately Tk28 for diesel. The savings per unit are around Tk10 when compared to furnace oil.
Bangladesh Power Development Board is struggling to bridge the significant gap between electricity production costs and sales prices.
Coal-fired power plants like Banshkhali offer some relief, but their shutdown would severely strain the board's ability to manage the situation. Consequently, industry stakeholders are urgently calling for government intervention.
