Construction of China-backed power plant in Dhaka delayed after deadly clashes between Chinese and Bangladeshi workers

A Chinese worker was killed and at least six injured on Wednesday when violence erupted between Bangladeshi and Chinese construction workers at the plant

A general manager the coal-based 1,320 megawatt power plant would not come on line early next year as planned as a result of the damage

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One person was killed and at least six injured when violence erupted between Bangladeshi and Chinese construction workers at the plant. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:29pm, 23 Jun 2019Updated: 7:13am, 24 Jun 2019

The construction of a US$2.5 billion power plant in Bangladesh, a joint venture with China, will be delayed after critical equipment was stolen or destroyed during clashes between workers at the site this week, a senior official said on Sunday.

A Chinese worker was killed and at least six injured on Wednesday when violence erupted between Bangladeshi and Chinese construction workers at the plant, with the former angered by the death of a colleague in a fall.

Abdul Mowla, general manager of the Bangladesh-China Power (BCPCL), which is 50:50 funded by China and Bangladesh, said as a result of the damage the coal-based 1,320 megawatt power plant would not come on line early next year as planned.

He said he did not know the new target date for the plant, which is being constructed near the port of Payra 320km from Dhaka.

A Siemens-produced directive control system, the equivalent of the brains of the facility, has gone missing, Mowla said.

Cranes were also inactive at the site, as a hydraulics system has been disabled and needs foreign experts to be brought in to get it working again, he added.

Mowla said a “huge” amount of destruction inside the plant had resulted from the clashes.

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