To materialise the government's plan for ensuring quality power supply for the consumers, several power plant projects, especially coal and LNG-fired power plants, are being built at the coastal areas of the country. Bangladesh, where land is increasingly scarce due to a burgeoning population, needs huge investment for power generation and development of power distribution facilities. The scarcity of domestic primary energy sources has pushed the country to plan for imported fuel-based power plant development. Therefore, it was decided that the imported coal and LNG-based power plant projects will be constructed near the coast to take advantage of marine and river transports. Apart from the initiatives of much-discussed Mataarbari coal (1,200 MW) and LNG-based power hub development, government has also taken initiative to develop Rampal coal (1,320 MW) fired power plant through a joint venture with India. In addition, several large scale power plants Payra 1,320 MW project of North West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL)-Chinese CMC Joint Venture, Payra 3,600 MW LNG-based power project by the NWPGCL-Siemens Germany JV, Payra 1,320 MW thermal power plant project (second phase) of NWPGCL & CMC JV, Patuakhali 2x660 MW coal fired power plant project of Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd and China Energy Engineering Corporation Co Ltd (Energy China) JV are now in the implementation phases.
The large power projects, not only involve development and operational activities at the plant sites, but also significant transportation operations, infrastructure building resulting multiple pollution of soil, water, air and disturbances to the ecosystem. The project implementation authorities claim that they have either completed or are in the process of carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the project impact management studies, based on which the Environmental Clearances are obtained from regulatory authorities. The environmental activists continue to raise their concerns for the coal-fired power development close to the Sundarban mangrove forests. Experts and sector specialists explained that the concentration of several large energy footprint and infrastructure projects invite concerns for Bangladesh, pushing them to call for carrying out Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) prior to initiating the projects. The experts have taken note that the south and south west zone of Bangladesh have been rapidly developing with the progress of various energy and power projects. The power projects involve port, river transport systems, connecting roads, power evacuation high voltage transmission lines, railways, bridges and many other physical infrastructures.
The south west zone of Bangladesh near Sundarbans is under regular scrutiny of the environmental activists and media, mainly due to 'Rampal power plant' development initiatives and coal transportation concerns. Also, the growing number of several LPG storage terminals and bottling plants, LPG cylinder plants, initiatives for development of 190 industrial enterprises within close vicinities of Sundarban area, increased activities of the Mongla port and its channels along with intensive cargo transportation including coal barges movements through the Sundarbans, have raised concerns for the sensitive ecosystem of the region. The work on large scale power plant projects further added to concerns for the environment and bio-diversity conservation of the unique mangrove forests and its surrounding areas.
Environmental activists along with different sections of researchers often question the quality of EIA studies after the project implementation sites have been selected. In some cases, project related land development works were initiated while 'Environmental Clearance' remained pending. Also, deciding to go ahead with the development of a single project on an EIA-based Environmental Clearance may not actually reflect the cumulative impacts on the environment and bio-diversity of the region. The EIA will not be an effective tool in such cases as it helps to identify project specific impacts and their management programme.
The major development projects listed earlier will bring for the local people various direct and indirect benefits. The major power projects will bring more electricity, help develop industries, create employment opportunities, improve livelihood and diversity in the local economy. Still, the rapid development of several large power generation projects with associated infrastructures in a relatively small area demands an integrated assessment of regional accumulative impact on environment and eco-systems to enable sustainable development over a period of time.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a tool to achieve sustainable development helps to investigate project-level environmental impact assessment (EIA) and its limitations. The effective implementation of SEA can create an opportunity to develop roadmap for sustainable development of the region, ensure public participation in the development of the policy, plan and take steps for project implementation in the region. SEA will require the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (based on the likely significant effects of the project development, it includes the description of the project, the objectives behind planned project, baseline environment assessment, project impacts, impact mitigation measures and monitoring system); public consultation on the draft plan or programme for development initiatives, and the results of consultation for policy level decision-making. SEA also allows the stakeholders to be actively involved throughout the strategic decision-making process; improves analysis of broad public purposes and alternatives; facilitates proper attention to cumulative effects; ensures greater transparency and more effective public participation at the strategic level and provides a framework for more effective and efficient project-level assessments. Ahead of the project implementation, SEA also helps to identify the strategic actions that can influence the type of projects to be implemented. It deals with cumulative impacts of multiple projects including those on biodiversity or global warming that are difficult to consider at the project level EIA.
SEA affects the decision-making process at a stage where more alternatives are available for consideration. Overall, SEA helps decision-makers to better understand their plan, feel more confident about it, and learn about sustainability of the development plans for the given region.
Mushfiqur Rahman is a mining
engineer who writes on energy and environment.
mushfiq41@yahoo.com