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1500 MW more power by December-end


Published : 01 Dec 2022 09:43 PM

Power supply in the country will be normalized very soon, as the government expects to add around 1,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid by this month.

To this end, some power plants are being constructed in different areas. If these power plants start generating electricity within the stipulated time, it will help meet the demand for power greatly, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) officials said. 

According to the BPDB, 35 power plants having capacity of 13,134 MW of electricity are currently being constructed, and it has set a target of completing the projects by 2026. Besides, plans are underway to import 1,496 MW of electricity from India. On the other hand, the construction work of the country’s first nuclear power plant having a capacity of 2,400 MW of electricity is going on in full swing, which is expected to start its generation by 2024. 

The first unit of much-discussed Rampal 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant is likely to starts its commercial operation this month and second unit will go into generation by June, 2023, project official said.

Along with the power plant, Adani Group of Jharkhand in India is ready to supply 800MW of electricity from December 16. The second unit having capacity 800MW of electricity will start its operation by June next year.

BPDB sources said, some 94 to 99 percent work of three power plants has already been completed, which are expected to generate electricity by this month. These are: Mirsarai 150MW (99 percent), Barishal 307MW (95 percent) and Ashuganj 400MW combined cycle power plant (96 percent). However, inauguration be may slightly delayed to generate its generation. 

On the other hand, some 74 to 97 percent work of four power plants has already been completed, which is expected to generate electricity by early in next year. These are: Khulna 330 MW dual fuel-first unit (74 percent), Hatiya 15MW (84 percent), Chattogram 612 MW-first unit (96 percent) and Dharmopasha, Sunamganj 32MW solar power plant.

However, around 35 percent to 97 percent work on nine more power plants has been completed, which is expected to generate electricity by end of next year. The power plants are: Khulna 330 MW dual fuel-second unit (75 percent), 409MW Ghorashal unit-4 (96 percent), Sonagazi 50MW solar power plant (35 percent), Sundarganj, Gaibandha 200MW solar park, Chattogram 612 MW-second unit (96 percent), Meghnaghat 583MW (70 percent), Meghnaghat, Narayanganj 584MW (69 percent), Meghnaghat 718 MW (65 percent) and Cox’s Bazar 60MW wind power plant. 

The government started planned load-shedding in the country since July 19 to save energy in order to reduce pressure on foreign exchange.

There was a shortfall of around 2000-2500 megawatts of electricity per day. Therefore, there had been load-shedding for up to eight hours in some parts of the country. But now it came down. And if at least 1500MW of electricity adds to the national grid within the stipulated time, it will help to reduce loads heeding.

Bangladesh’s grid connected power capacity is now 22,512 megawatts, including renewable energy and imported power. However, the government has set a target to generate 40,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030, and 60,000 megawatts by 2041.