Oversized Stones Found in Indonesian Coal Shipment for Matarbari Power Plant

A recent investigation by the Power Division has revealed that an Indonesian coal consignment imported in March for the 1200 MW Matarbari Ultra Super Critical power plant contained around 150 oversized stones, some weighing up to 30 kilograms.

The problematic shipment, totaling 63,300 tonnes onboard the MV Orient Orchid, arrived at the Matarbari jetty on 17 March 2025. Alongside the stones, the coal was found soaked with water and mixed with mud and reddish substances, adding to its weight.

The probe committee highlighted the contaminated coal as a serious risk to the plant’s machinery.

Power Division Confirmation
Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser for power, energy, and mineral resources, confirmed the findings to The Business Standard, noting the supplier had delivered stone-contaminated coal. The initial reaction of the plant operator was to reject the entire shipment, but some of the coal was later accepted under conditions: the supplier had to remove stones and foreign materials, account for excess water, and pay port overstay fees.

Supplier Response
The consignment was supplied by a consortium of Bangladesh’s Meghna Group and Aditya Birla Global Trading (Singapore) Pte Ltd. A team from the consortium inspected the coal yard and acknowledged the presence of oversized stones, mud, reddish substances, and water-laden coal. The supplier attributed the excessive water content to heavy rain in Indonesia during transport but offered no clear explanation for the stones and foreign materials, promising only to be “more cautious” in future shipments.

Coal Handling Issues
Meghna Group and its partner urged the Coal Power Generation Company to accept the contaminated coal after manually removing foreign materials. The company rejected the request, citing potential damage to the power plant from stone-laden coal. Out of the 63,300 tonnes, 22,774 tonnes had already been unloaded when the stones were discovered.

Recommendations of the Probe Committee

• Ensure future shipments are free of contamination.

• Collect coal samples at the jetty in the supplier’s presence for third-party testing.

• Examine coal for foreign materials and excessive water before unloading.

• Investigate any damage caused during unloading and take necessary action in accordance with the supply contract.

Follow-up Actions
Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan said a joint committee was set up to separate usable and unusable coal. The supplier paid port overstay fees, and measures were taken to remove stones and foreign materials. Khan noted that potential monetary penalties for the supplier are under review.

The consignment is part of a one-year contract for supplying 3.5 million tonnes of coal to the Matarbari plant. The issue surfaced after The Business Standard reported on a leaked official letter from the Coal Power Generation Company, revealing operational disruptions caused by the sticky, contaminated coal that clogged conveyor belts and screens.