Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 05 2022

AsiaElec COAL AsiaElec

Japanese climate activists

move to block Bangladeshi

coal development

BANGALDESH THE Japanese arm of Fridays for Future is pre- It is expected the Matarbari plant will be up
paring to clash with some of the biggest names in and running within two years, in the process
coal power plant projects across Southeast Asia, employing new technologies to help alleviate
including Toshiba and Sumitomo, as the climate activists’ worries, including a limit on plant emis-
activists appeal for global support against the sions, reduced use of water, and ash reduction
construction of a Japan-funded coal power plant factors to help protect nearby areas.
at Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Countering the claims by the nation’s
Made up of at least 12 like-minded groups, MPEMR, the Bangladeshi branch of Fridays for
the goal is to block the combined Sumitomo Future, headed by Farzana Faruk Jhumu, said
Corp, Toshiba and IHI Corporation Matarbari “We have the capacity to transition to renewable
coal power plant being funded by the Japan energy and we need the support of Japan to make
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) near this transition, but not for a coal power plant that
Bangladesh’s, and the world’s, longest beach. is aimed at their profit.”
As one of the most heavily populated nations Group representatives back in Japan mean-
in the world, and number three in South Asia while said that the plans by JICA to fund the
after neighbouring India and Indonesia, Bang- Matarbari site directly contradict Tokyo’s May
ladesh currently relies on coal power for around 2021 promises, as one of the G7 nations, to put a
8% of its electricity supply, although in 2021, the stop to all financial backing for coal power pro-
government in Dhaka made the decision to can- jects overseas by the end of the year.
cel 10 out of 18 other projects planned for sites Speaking to an online event, Kentaro
around the country. Yamamoto said that Japan’s overseas support
Whilst this was in part down to calls from aimed at improving energy infrastructure, while
climate activist groups to put a halt to the con- being painted as “development assistance” was in
struction of any more coal powered plants, fact “destroying the environment”.
sources in Bangladesh indicate the rising price Some of Japan’s largest trading houses remain
of coal towards the end of the year and regional committed to CPP construction across South-
supply issues were also a major factor in the east Asia despite Sumitomo at least posting com-
cancellations. mitments to become carbon neutral by 2050; a
Referring to the online demands of Fri- non-issue in so far as the Matarbari plant goes,
days for Future Japan, the head of Power Cell, according to a statement by Sumitomo, who say
the technical branch of Bangladesh’s Minis- the facility will be operated by the government of
try of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Bangladesh, and would be retired by the middle
(MPEMR), denied having received any petition of the century anyway, not running counter to
regarding construction of the Matarbari CPP. the company’s net-zero targets.
Mohammad Hossain did say, however, that “This project is hurting the people of Bang-
“(we) have already cancelled power plants with ladesh (and this planet). About 20,000 people
an intention to cut down emissions but this is will lose land, homes and jobs, flooding will get
an ongoing project and there is no question to worse, and about 14,000 people could lose their
cancel it.” lives due to the toxic waste” Yamamoto added.
Mr. Hossain went on to say of the Matarbari The online Fridays for Future petition had
plant: “Our country is growing fast – its energy garnered just 219 signatures at the time of
demand is growing. This project has been taken writing.™
up looking at the (energy) demands of 2030.”

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 05 02•February•2022