TRANSPARENCY International Bangladesh has claimed that India and China are forcing the Bangladesh government to set-up coal-fired power plants. TIB on Friday called on the Bangladesh government and the investors to “move away from the conspirators, especially India and China.” The call was made during a rally on “Global Climate Strike” in front of the National Press Club. According to TIB, India and China have moved away from coal-fired power plants in their own countries and come to ours. It also urged the government to shut down all coal-related projects as the carbon-emitting coal-fired power plants across the country are not in line with Bangladesh’s pledge of reducing the carbon footprint by 5% within 2030.
We can cite here one example to clear the situation. China Energy Group, the country’s biggest power generator, will add more than 6 gigawatts (GW) of new ultra-low emission coal-fired capacity this year as it bids to meet growing electricity demand. But the company would gradually shut down small and polluting coal-fired power units and replace them with efficient ones. In total, China has only 15 coal-fired power plants. On the other hand, India’s coal-fired power plants may have to burn at least $10 billion, and raise tariffs by at least a tenth, to meet the country’s air pollution standards. This estimate comes four years after the standards were set and two years after the initial deadline to comply was missed. There are also huge controversies in India over setting up coal-fired power plants as these are contributing to air pollution. Using coal as raw materials, the both China and India saw that generation of power becomes comparatively costly.
Meanwhile, a United Nations-led report titled: “Decarbonising South and South East Asia,” published on June 20 stated that Bangladesh was planning to triple its coal-fired power generation capacity. It said, “Expansion of coal-fired power generation is at odds with the goal of stable electricity provision to under-served communities. This expansion risks locking Bangladesh into a carbon-intensive development path, and will prevent Bangladesh from reaping the benefit of cheap, clean renewable energy.”
We must say, the government should take decision in this regard taking all adverse impacts under active consideration.
We can cite here one example to clear the situation. China Energy Group, the country’s biggest power generator, will add more than 6 gigawatts (GW) of new ultra-low emission coal-fired capacity this year as it bids to meet growing electricity demand. But the company would gradually shut down small and polluting coal-fired power units and replace them with efficient ones. In total, China has only 15 coal-fired power plants. On the other hand, India’s coal-fired power plants may have to burn at least $10 billion, and raise tariffs by at least a tenth, to meet the country’s air pollution standards. This estimate comes four years after the standards were set and two years after the initial deadline to comply was missed. There are also huge controversies in India over setting up coal-fired power plants as these are contributing to air pollution. Using coal as raw materials, the both China and India saw that generation of power becomes comparatively costly.
Meanwhile, a United Nations-led report titled: “Decarbonising South and South East Asia,” published on June 20 stated that Bangladesh was planning to triple its coal-fired power generation capacity. It said, “Expansion of coal-fired power generation is at odds with the goal of stable electricity provision to under-served communities. This expansion risks locking Bangladesh into a carbon-intensive development path, and will prevent Bangladesh from reaping the benefit of cheap, clean renewable energy.”
We must say, the government should take decision in this regard taking all adverse impacts under active consideration.
