The country has been experiencing frequent load shedding as the power generation witnessed a drastic fall due to acute gas shortage. Besides, different areas in the city have been experiencing serious gas crisis or low pressure in the gas supply for the past few months, hampering household chores.
The country’s industrial sector is also bearing the brunt of gas crisis. Residents of many areas in the capital Dhaka have been hit hard by gas shortages, causing immense sufferings to them.
According to the Power Grid Bangladesh PLC, the country is witnessing about 2000 MW of shortage in power supply. Power utility officials are attributing this situation to drastic fall in gas supply to power plants.
Petrobangla official statistics show that the country’s gas supply has declined to 2253 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) due to a shortfall in imported LNG supply. The Petrobangla’s LNG supply capacity came down to 243 MMCFD from 1100 MMCFD which ultimately led to a huge fall in power generation.
Therefore, the country has been experiencing load shedding as the power generation witnessed a fall due to acute gas shortage. Dhaka city has also been experiencing huge power cuts as residents of many areas complained that they have been facing frequent load shedding.
People, particularly rural areas are the worst sufferers from power cuts as the authorities concerned are pursuing a policy to reduce the load shedding in urban areas, mostly in large cities, including the capital Dhaka. This is being done to avoid public wrath.
Gas supply has declined to 2253
million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) due to
a shortfall in
imported LNG supply
It is mentionable that the State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on July 4 said the power supply situation would improve in the next three to four days while gas supply would be uninterrupted by the middle of this month. But, there is no sign of improvement despite his frequent assurances.
All had believed that as the minister assured that the power supply situation in the country would improve immediately, with uninterrupted gas supply by mid-July, but the situation deteriorated further. Residents in different areas of the capital are not getting adequate gas during the daytime.
They have to cook meals at midnight when gas flow is found to be a little bit better. City dwellers said although the gas crisis started in mid-January, it has intensified recently. Some of them alleged that they do not get any gas even in 24 hours.
The owners are failing to run their industries, factories, and business establishments due to the gas crisis. Production at those industries and factories is being seriously hampered, thus raising the cost of production.
Most of the industry owners use their own generators for electricity to keep the production going but lack of gas supply often makes those inoperative. We know the government is striving to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to all industries as the country is going to be a trillion-dollar economy by the year 2040. Due to unplanned industrialisation, it becomes difficult for the government to provide smooth gas supply to all industries.
The government should ensure an uninterrupted gus supply to the industries immediately. Taking into account the Bangladesh’ post-graduation sitiation, the government must give priority to energy security strategy as energy is imperative to sustain the growth momentum.
Simultaneously, the authorities concerned have to prepare a routine on how long loadshedding would be executed in which area so that the people can prepare themselves for that to have some respite. All have to understand this global crisis that has put all of us in danger.
Besides, all should maintain austerity in using electricity and gas which will be beneficial to face any type of crisis in the future and then we will be able to save ourselves from the ongoing crisis.
