Matarbari coal offload conditions30 May 2025 09:52
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Supplier slapped with 5 conditions to unload rejected Matarbari coal shipment
Shazzad Hossen
30 May, 2025, 09:50 am
Last modified: 30 May, 2025, 09:57 am
No payment for supplier until all conditions met
Matarbari 1,200MW coal-fired plant in Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar. File Photo: Nupa Alam/TBS
Matarbari 1,200MW coal-fired plant in Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar. File Photo: Nupa Alam/TBS
Highlights
Supplier to separate foreign materials from coal at own cost
Water content must be weighted and left from actual weight
Supplier to pay port overstay fee
Demurrage for conveyor belt destruction
Penalty for creating disruption in coal supply and power generation system
The Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) has allowed the unloading of a previously rejected coal shipment for the 1,200MW Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal Fired Power Plant, on the condition that the supplier meets five tough requirements following concerns of serious quality compromise.
The decision was taken at a CPGCBL board meeting on 17 May after the supplier agreed to fulfil all conditions. CPGCBL Secretary Kazi Md Mirza Hossain confirmed the decision, saying, "The board has finalised the conditions and directed the supplier to comply fully."
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The coal-laden vessel, the Orient Orchid, flagged under Singapore and carrying around 63,000 tonnes, had remained stranded at the Moheshkhali channel since 17 March, when the 11th consignment was rejected due to excessive contamination with foreign materials including large stones, wood, and mud.
Under the terms set by CPGCBL, the supplier must remove all foreign materials from the coal at their own expense. These materials, once separated, will be weighed and excluded from the total coal weight used for payment calculations.
Secondly, the water content in the coal must also be measured and excluded from the final weight, to ensure payment reflects only the usable coal.
Thirdly, the supplier must pay daily port overstay fees amounting to $10,000 per day, retroactively effective from 21 March.
The fourth condition requires the supplier to bear demurrage costs related to damage caused to the port's conveyor belts during the attempted unloading of the rejected coal.
The final and most stringent condition, according to the Power Division, is a special penalty for creating disruptions in coal supply and electricity generation. The plant had to operate at partial capacity due to the poor-quality coal, leading to notable power generation losses.
This special fine would be calculated later on once the final test report is conducted.
No payment until conditions met
Md Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), said the current cons