Fulminating over Phulbari

Fulminating over Phulbari

25th March 2006

Last week, we reported the widespread, and growing, opposition in Bangladesh to the country's proposed new energy policy. Critics fear that it would expose the nation's coal, oil and gas, to exploitation by foreign companies at the expense of the people. [see http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press977.htm]

Now, the state's energy and minerals resources advisor has lent backing to this opinion, specifically questioning the terms of the deal with Asia Energy plc - one originally brokered between the UK company and BHP (now BHPBilliton) twelve years ago.

Not content with letting Bangladeshis themselves determine their own energy policy, Asia Energy's British CEO has entered the debate with a broadside against the government's advisor, inter alia claiming that his recent statement could jeopardise the safety of the company's project and staff.