Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will supply uninterrupted electricity to remote areas of Kutubdia and Nijhum islands through submarine cables soon.
Besides, the people in Hatia Island will also get uninterrupted electricity by around 10MW IPP (Independent Power Producer) power plant.
“BPDP has taken an initiative to implement 100% Reliable and Sustainable Electrification in Hatia Island, Nijhum Island and Kutubdia Island project, which is going on. More than 42,000 families will get uninterrupted electricity once the project is completed,” a BPDB official said.
Under the initiative, the private company ‘Desh Energy’ has been working to set up a power plant with the capacity of around 10MW in Hatia. The generated power will be supplied to the Island. Moreover, the electricity will supply to Nijhum Island through submarine cables.
On the other hand residents of Kutubdia Island will get electricity from national grid through another submarine cable.
Currently, BPDB is supplying power to the three islands at a very limited scale with diesel generator.
The BPDB on Wednesday signed an agreement with the JATI-PSDC-YOUNGIN Consortium for turnkey work, including grid connection by a 33KV submarine cable to Kutubdia Island. The agreement includes connection of 15 km 33KV overhead line with a river crossing tower, connection of 33KV submarine cable with a regular type 33/11KV substation to the national grid. The expenditure has been estimated at Tk 1,044,243,912.
According to BPDB, construction work of a regular and two rural type 33/11KV substations has started on Hatia Island. Connection of Nijhum Island to Hatia Island by 11KV submarine cable is in progress. An official of BPDB said, “It is expected that uninterrupted electricity will be supplied to Hatia and Nijhum islands by March 17 next year. On the other hand, residents of Kutubdia Island will get electricity by December next. The work was slightly delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic. However, we are trying to complete the work as soon as possible.”
In November, 2019, the government laid a 15-km submarine cable on the sea bed for the first time to supply electricity to the southern island of Sandwip in Chattogram district.
In February this year, the government also opened a 1-km submarine cable, drawn under the Padma River, to provide electricity to some 20,000 consumers in two char areas in Shariatpur’s Naria upazila.
The government’s frantic efforts to ensure 100 percent electricity coverage have enabled the country to reach power to ‘Char Kukri Mukri’, a remote island in Bhola, through submarine cable.
Besides Char Kukri Mukri, the government has provided electricity to several other char areas of the Jamuna through submarine cables. The areas were known to be extremely inaccessible. Work is underway to deliver power to several other areas through submarine cable, BPDB officials said.
The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has played a vital role in ensuring electricity for all in Bangladesh. Currently, 99.75 percent people have been brought under electricity coverage in the country.
In the efforts to implement the programme, the government is working to provide power to remote Chars (islands), said a power division official.
According to the power division, apart from boosting economic growth increased power coverage has improved the lives of people in remote villages and created new income-generating opportunities for the people.
Officials also said that with the development of internet and information technology, people in rural areas are getting more economic opportunities and spread of education is being accelerated while primary health care has reached people's doorsteps.
