Open Letter: Urgently Stop Supporting 1,320 Mw Banshkhali Coal Power Plant In Bangladesh

22 June 2021
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To
The Chinese Authorities, Sponsors, Contractors, Financiers, Equipment Suppliers, Technology Supporters, Consultants and their shareholders

We, the undersigned 130 individuals and 74 organizations from 21 countries including Bangladesh, call upon your institution to immediately withdraw and end provision of finance and technical support for the SS Power I Ltd. (hereinafter ‘Banshkhali Power Plant’) Chattogram, Bangladesh. We also call upon all companies involved to withdraw from the project.

Banshkhali coal-fired power plant is a joint venture of S. Alam Group of Bangladesh (70%), Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation III (20%) and HTG Development Group Co. Ltd. (10%). 71% of the project cost (USD 1.76 bn) is financed by a consortium of Chinese Banks including the Bank of China as the lead arranger and the Export-Import Bank of China being the export credit agency. Your institution is also involved with the project and providing financial and technical support, among others.

The involvement is contrary to President Xi Jinping’s speech at the second Belt and Road Forum in 2019 where he said ”We need to pursue open, green and clean cooperation. ...We may launch green infrastructure projects, make green investments and provide green financing to protect the Earth which we all call home” [1]. In Feb 2021, Economic and Commercial Counselor (ECCO) of China in Bangladesh sent a letter to the Bangladesh's Ministry of Finance stating that “the Chinese side shall no longer consider projects with high pollution and high energy consumption, such as coal mining and coal-fired power stations”. We welcome China’s decision not to fund new coal projects in Bangladesh which is clearly a step forward to fulfilling the promise of a green Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) [2].

A Blood-coloured BRI project

Since the beginning of the project in 2016, 12 people have lost their lives, more than 100 got injured and harassment cases have been filed against over 6000 workers and villagers in three different incidents around this power plant. Local people consider the project a curse for themselves as not only lives were lost but at least 10,000 people have been affected by the losses of homesteads and farmland because of this project [3]. Involvement of the Chinese financiers and technology companies with this project makes it a controversial BRI project.

The project has been marred by lack of transparency, irregularities and rampant human rights violation since its inception. Lead sponsor S. Alam group evicted thousands of local residents and they were not paid a single penny for their land [4]. Those who refused to give up their land were harassed with fake lawsuits. S Alam acquired several times more land than the actual 640 acres of project area using their muscle and mobsters [5]. Poor villagers are the most sufferers after losing their last means of earnings because in the name of the power plant, their paddy land, fish farms, and salt fields have been grabbed [6].

Serious Health Risks

Banshkhali power plant will be extremely harmful to the public health in the area. According to estimates, the coal power project will emit 192,200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide) over its operating lifetime [7]. It is estimated that the proposed coal power projects in Chattogram including Banshkhali will risk the premature death of more than 30,000 people due to air pollution related to respiratory and heart diseases, among others [8].

An Environmental Nightmare

A recent independent analysis of the Banshkhali EIA shows that it contains errors and omissions which raises legal questions [9]. There is absolutely no mention of the health impacts of air pollutant emissions in the EIA; the plant’s mercury emissions are completely omitted; and, the air quality modeling is flawed, Moreover, the project plans to apply very weak emissions standards, which would not be allowed even in China, and the flaws and omissions in the EIA help justify this. The ongoing construction itself creates a permanent waterlogging over a large area of the adjoining villages [10].

Intensifying Climate Crisis

China has ratified the Paris agreement, which requires efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels. The Paris climate target cannot be achieved unless coal-fired power generation is phased out worldwide by 2040, including the retirement of existing coal power plants [11]. As a member of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), Bangladesh is also committed to achieve 100% renewables by 2050 [12].

China's measures for foreign investment

According to article 20 of the newly revised Measures for Foreign Investment Management (issued by MOFCOM in 2014), "enterprises should abide by domestic and overseas laws and regulations, respect local customs, fulfill social responsibilities, do a good job in such areas as environment and labor protection, staff training and the construction of enterprise culture” [13]. According to article 43 of the Measures for the Administration of Outbound Investment by Enterprises of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC): in the process of overseas investment, when there is any fatal accident, heavy loss of overseas assets or any serious adverse circumstance impairing the diplomatic relations of China and the host country, the investor shall submit a report form of serious adverse circumstance through the network system within five working days from the date of occurrence of the accident [14]. We demand you to get aligned with those Chinese measures for foreign investment, and respond to our following demands.

We demand:

  1. Withdraw all involvement of your institution from the Banshkhali coal power project.
  2. Investigate the issues in relation with human rights violation and erroneous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
  3. Ensure adequate compensation and rehabilitation of the dead and injured workers and the affected villagers.
  4. Without exceptions, cancel all ongoing and future investments in fossil fuel including coal, oil and gas.
  5. We hope you will reconsider your decision of financial and technical support for the Banshkhali power project and show your commitment towards a green Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by respecting human and environmental rights, not a blood and tear-spilled one.

Signed by:

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  1. Advocate Sultana Kamal, President, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), Bangladesh
  2. Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Health Rights Activist and Trustee, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Bangladesh
  3. Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Founder member, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh
  4. Khushi Kabir, Coordinator, Nijera Kori, Bangladesh
  5. Anu Muhammad, Professor, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
  6. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh
  7. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Bangladesh
  8. Shamsul Huda, Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Bangladesh
  9. Shaheen Anam, Executive Director, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Bangladesh
  10. Dr. Shahidul Alam, Managing Director, Drik, Bangladesh
  11. Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), Philippines
  12. Ruhin Hossain Prince, Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh
  13. Alfredo Quarto, Executive Director, Mangrove Action Project (MAP), Bangladesh
  14. Shireen Pervin Huq, Human Rights and Women Movement Activist, Bangladesh
  15. Rayyan Hassan, Executive Director, NGO Forum on ADB, Philippines
  16. Perween Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Central Women's University, Bangladesh
  17. Bibek Ranjan, Secretary, Communist Party of India (ML) Red Star, India
  18. Shahnaz Huda, Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  19. Takayoshi Yokoyama, Activist, 350.org Japan
  20. Sharif Jamil, Coordinator, Waterkeepers Bangladesh
  21. Tom Weerachat, Global Lead on Community-led Advocacy, International Accountability Project (IAP), United States
  22. Kazi Maruful Islam, Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  23. Susanne Wong, Senior Campaigner, Oil Change International (OCI), United States
  24. Mirza Taslima Sultana, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
  25. Debendra Adhikari, South Asia Programme Manager, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Nepal
  26. Omar Tarek Chowdhury, Author & Translator, Bangladesh
  27. David Hillman, Director, Stamp Out Poverty, United Kingdom
  28. Robaet Ferdous, Professor, Mass Communication & Journalism, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  29. Heffa Schuecking, Director, Urgewald, Germany
  30. Zobaida Nasreen, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  31. Deepa Sonpal, Independent Activist, India
  32. Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Lawyer, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
  33. Knud Voecking, Director, IFI Program, Urgewald, Germany
  34. Qazi Zahed Iqbal, Lawyer, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
  35. Kate Geary, Co-Director, Recourse, Netherlands
  36. Asif Nazrul, Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  37. Pieter Jansen, Policy Lead, Both ENDS, Netherlands
  38. M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Chief Moderator, Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD)
  39. Anuradha Chenoy, Retired. Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
  40. Sayema Khatun, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
  41. Vidya Dinker, President, INSAF (Indian Social Action Forum), India
  42. Nasrin Khandokar, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
  43. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, National Coordinator, WomanHealth Philippines
  44. Nova Ahmed, Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, North South University, Bangladesh
  45. Muhammad Reza Sahib, Coordinator, KRuHA (People's Coalition for the Right to Water), Indonesia
  46. Sharmeen Murshid, Executive Director, Brotee Samaj Kallyan Sangstha, Bangladesh
  47. Soumya Dutta, Co-convener, South Asian People's Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC), India
  48. Shamsher Ali, Member, Life and Nature Safeguard Platform (LNSP), Bangladesh
  49. Susan Tagle, Coordinator, Asian Energy Network (AEN), Philippines
  50. S M Nazer Hossain, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Social Development Effort (ISDE) Bangladesh
  51. Nusrat S. Chowdhury, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Amherst College, United States
  52. Gouranga Nandy, Chairperson, Center for Environment and Participatory Research (CEPR), Bangladesh
  53. Saeed Baloch, Senior Vice Chairperson, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), Pakistan
  54. Vanmala Hiranandani, Independent Activist, Denmark
  55. Maha Mirza, Independent Researcher and Human Rights Activist, Bangladesh
  56. Eugene Simonov, Coordinator, Rivers without Boundaries, China
  57. Arifuzzaman Tuhin, Senior Reporter, the Daily Desh Rupantor, Bangladesh
  58. Shibayan Raha, Senior Digital Organiser, 350.org Asia
  59. Sekender Ali Mina Sumon, Executive Director, Safety and Rights Society (SRS), Bangladesh
  60. Rajesh Kumar, Activist, Centre for financial Accountability (CFA), India
  61. Sharowat Shamin, Assistant Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  62. Sreedhar Ramamurthi, Managing Trustee, Environics Trust, India
  63. Syed Aminul Hoque, Director, Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD), Bangladesh
  64. Sushovan Dhar, IC Member, Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM), Belgium
  65. Henrieke Butijn, Climate Campaigner, BankTrack, Netherlands
  66. Shahid Ullah, Executive Director, Jana Adhayan Kendra (JAK), Bangladesh
  67. Yuki Tanabe, Program Director, Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES), Japan
  68. Abdullah Al Noman, Coordinator, Lawyers For Energy, Environment and Development (LEED), Bangladesh
  69. Cheryl Desmond, President, Servicios Ecumenicos para Reconciliacion y Reconstruccion (SERR), United States
  70. Sankha Subhra Biswas, Coordinator, Collective for Economic Justice (CEJ), India
  71. Dina M. Siddiqi, Clinical Associate Professor, Global Liberal Studies, New York University, United States
  72. Mohammad Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive, Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Bangladesh
  73. Aryamitra Maheshkar, Founder Member, Aryanand Social Work Forum, India
  74. Aminuzzaman Milon, Executive Director, Bandhan, Bangladesh
  75. Vinod Chandra Sonera, Trustee, Nirman: an Initiative for Sustainable Development, India
  76. Sazia Sharmin, Research Coordinator, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Bangladesh
  77. Natesh Ullal, Member, Growthwatch, India
  78. Tauhedul Islam Shahazada, Executive Director, Prantojon, Bangladesh
  79. Henry Nyapokoto, Programmes Manager, Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), Zimbabwe
  80. Rashed Ripon, Executive Director, Paribartan-Rajshahi, Bangladesh
  81. Hana Shams Ahmed, Department of Anthropology, York University, Canada
  82. Amal Akash, Artist & Cultural Activist, Samageet, Bangladesh
  83. Nanda Maheshkar, Chairperson, Aryanand Social Work Forum, India
  84. Rebeka Neela, Teacher & Cultural Activist, Samageet, Bangladesh
  85. Mustafa Mirani, Chairperson, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), Pakistan
  86. Sheikh Mohd. Noor Alam, Convener, Mongla Nagorik Samaj, Bangladesh
  87. Eri Watanabe, Finance Campaigner, 350.org, Japan
  88. Nasrin Siraj, Researcher, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands
  89. Kiran Kalindi, Secretary, Progressive Plantation Workers Union (PPWU), India
  90. Bithi Ghosh, Teacher & Cultural Activist, Samageet, Bangladesh
  91. Agnes Kharshiing, President, Civil Society Women's Organization (CSWO), India
  92. F.M. Anwar Hossain, Chief Executive, Greenfield Livelihood and Services (GLS), Bangladesh
  93. Richard Solly, Coordinator, London Mining Network (LMN), United Kingdom
  94. Quazi Iqbal Bahar Sabery, Executive Director, Center for Rural Child Development (CRCD), Bangladesh
  95. Keiko Kubo, Activist, Servicios Ecumenicos para Reconciliacion y Reconstruccion (SERR), United States
  96. Nora Sausmikat, Sinologist, Urgewald, Germany
  97. Bareesh Chowdhury, Research Lawyer, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh
  98. Julia Fish, Coordinator, Fund Our Future, South Africa
  99. Mohammad Shahjahan, Deputy Director, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Bangladesh
  100. Saswati Swetlena, National Coordinator, Mineral Inheritors Rights Association, India
  101. Mahbub Alam Prince, CLEAN (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network), Bangladesh
  102. Juthy Nujahat, Campaigner, Phulbari Solidarity Group (PSG), United Kingdom
  103. Fazlur Rahman, Executive Director, Society for Participatory Education and Development (SPED), Bangladesh
  104. Mohit Ranadip, Executive Member, Aamra Ek Sachetan Prayas, India
  105. Kamrun Nahar, Staff Reporter, the Financial Express, Bangladesh
  106. Tonny Nowshin, Activist, Degrowth and Climate Justice Movement, Germany
  107. Sohanur Rahman, Coordinator, YouthNet for Climate Justice, Bangladesh
  108. Farha Shah, Organizer, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India
  109. Jannatul Mouwa, Executive Director, Bindu Nari Unnayan Sangathan, Bangladesh
  110. Farjana Aktar, Researcher, Stockholm University, Sweden
  111. Imran Hossain, District Coordinator, Youthnet for Climate Justice, Bangladesh
  112. Apo Leong, Chair, Hong Kong Social Security Society (HKSSS), Hong Kong
  113. Silvanus Kisku Milon, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Bangladesh
  114. Poeun Kao, Program Coordinator, Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), Cambodia
  115. Shadman Khalili, Research Associate, Change Initiative, Bangladesh
  116. Ha Van Thu, Programme Coordinator, Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Thailand
  117. Towhidul Islam Opu, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh
  118. Wanun Permpibul, Executive Director, Climate Watch Thailand
  119. Wokeya Yesmin Farha, Research Assistant, Change Initiative, Bangladesh
  120. Geetha Lakmini Fernando, National Coordinator, We Women Lanka, Sri Lanka
  121. Anik Saha Majumder, Committee Member, Volunteers for Bangladesh
  122. Bach Dang Dinh, Director, Law and Policy of Sustainable Development Center (LPSD), Vietnam
  123. Farjana Akter, Khulna University for Engineering and Technology (KUET), Bangladesh
  124. Sachin Chavan, Independent Activist, India
  125. M. Aamanur Rahman, Vice President, Democratic Budget Movement (DBM), Bangladesh
  126. Natalie Lowrey, Campaign Coordinator, AID/Watch, Australia
  127. Tessa Khan, Director, Uplift, United Kingdom
  128. Sarmin Akter Bristy, Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh
  129. Soumya Sahin, Coordinator, Prantojon, India
  130. Hasan Mehedi, Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED), Bangladesh

Information Sources

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  1. Business Standard (2019). "Belt & Road Initiative, not an exclusive club, must benefit all: Xi Jinping". The Business Standard: 27 April 2019. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bri-should-follow-global-norms-and-benefit-all-says-chinese-president-xi-119042700200_1.html accessed on 17 May 2020
  2. FT (2021). "China turns its back on Bangladesh BRI coal projects". The Financial Times: 11 March 2021. Archived: https://energy-archive.blogspot.com/2021/05/china-turns-its-back-on-bangladesh-bri.html
  3. TBS (2021). “Banshkhali coal power plant a 'curse' for villagers”. The Business Standard (TBS): 21 April 2021. Archived: https://energy-archive.blogspot.com/2021/04/banshkhali-coal-power-plant-curse-for.html
  4. Mustafa, Kallol (2016). "Banshkhali Coal Power Plant Propaganda and Reality". The Daily Star: 13 April 2016. Archived: https://energy-archive.blogspot.com/2020/12/banshkhali-coal-power-plant-propaganda.html
  5. Chowdhury, Mitoon (2016). "Fear for losing houses, jobs ignites Banshkhali protests". The Bdnews24.com: 5 April 2016. Archived: https://energy-archive.blogspot.com/2021/04/fear-for-losing-houses-jobs-ignites.html
  6. Rahman, Mowdud (2017). "Coal aggression and civil disobedience". The NewAge: 17 December 2017. Archived: https://energy-archive.blogspot.com/2021/01/coal-aggression-and-civil-disobedience.html
  7. According to estimates by "Global Coal Plant Tracker," Global Energy Monitor, January 2021
  8. https://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Chattogram-coal-power-cluster.pdf
  9. https://energyandcleanair.org/major-flaws-in-banskhali-eia/
  10. TBS (2021). ibid.
  11. IEA (2021). Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector. International Energy Agency. Link: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/0716bb9a-6138-4918-8023-cb24caa47794/NetZeroby2050-ARoadmapfortheGlobalEnergySector.pdf
  12. CVF (2016). "The Marrakech Communique". The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), Marrakech: 18 November 2016. Retrieved from https://thecvf.org/activities/program/declarations/marrakech-communique/ accessed on 17 May 2021
  13. http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/policyreleasing/201409/20140900731551.shtml
  14. http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/b/g/201803/20180302719303.shtml