Japan has withdrawn financing for the Matarbari 2 coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh, forcing cancellation of the project. The plant would have had an output of 1200 MW. Bangladesh said that it will pursue LNG as a source of power instead of coal.
Matarbari 1, currently under construction, is scheduled to start commercial operations by January 2024.
Nasrul Hamid, Bangladesh’s Power Minister, said that the decision was taken by Japan to “reduce its carbon footprint.” Hamid said that he met the Japan International Cooperation Agency , which was coordinating the Matarbari 2 funding, to discuss renewable energy collaboration.