Photo : Messenger
The government is striving to supply maximum electricity to consumers during the summer heat, but people in rural areas, except Dhaka, are suffering from load shedding as 3,354 MW of electricity generation capacity is out of production due to fuel crisis and maintenance.
According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), 1,417 MW of capacity is out of generation due to gas and LNG shortage, 160 MW due to low water levels at Kaptai, and 2,017 MW is under maintenance.
Ashuganj thermal power station in Brahmanbaria cannot generate 400 MW of electricity due to a lack of gas, and 1,017 MW across the country is out of generation.
This state-owned power plant has six units in Ashuganj, most of which are new and use modern technology. Due to the modern technology, the production efficiency of these plants is high, while fuel consumption is low. The cost per unit of power generation is Tk 6-7 per unit. The production capacity of this power hub is 1,600 MW. However, 400 megawatts cannot be produced due to a lack of gas. The daily gas demand is 230 million cubic feet, which Petrobangla cannot provide.
On the other hand, this state-owned company is also suffering from a financial crisis. The bill for the sale of electricity to PDB is more than Tk 4,000 crore. As a result, Ashuganj Power Company now has to take a loan to run the plant.
Syed Ekram Ulla, Managing Director of Ashuganj Power Company, said that currently, 1,200 MW of electricity is being produced, but the center's capacity is 1,600 MW.
He also said that it is not possible to produce the remaining 400 MW due to a lack of gas.
State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid visited the Ashuganj power plant and said that since less gas is available, less electricity is being produced. The transmission also has some issues. He urged Petrobangla to increase the gas supply to the plant.
Energy expert Professor Shamsul Alam told the Daily Messenger, “Load shedding in villages is not discussed at the national level. But if there is more discussion about load shedding in big cities, including the capital. Usually, load shedding is not being provided to the capital.”
Moreover, Ghorashal 108 MW, Shiddirganj 110 MW, RPGCL 93 MW, Baghbaria 71 MW, Siddhirganj Unit-1 220 MW, and Shiddhirganj Unit-2 220 MW are out of generation due to gas shortage.
However, the projected electricity demand for irrigation alone is 2,590 MW in April 2024 and 2,590 MW in May 2024.
According to the Power Division, during the last irrigation season, the peak electricity demand was 16,000 MW in April. The overall electricity demand is expected to reach 17,800 MW during the upcoming irrigation season in 2024.
According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the highest generation of electricity was recorded at 16,233 MW on 22-04-2024.
Messenger/Fameema
