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Plan to cut systems loss of electricity down to 5pc


Bangladeshpost
Published : 25 Feb 2021 10:24 PM | Updated : 26 Feb 2021 01:01 AM

BSS, Dhaka

The government has a target to bring system losses of electricity down to five percent following the international standard from the existing 8.73 percent.

“Our target is to bring it around five percent as per the international standard with successfully installing smart grid, substations and prepayment meters across the country,” Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain told BSS on Thursday.

He said with sincere efforts and realistic and sustainable steps by the government, the electricity system losses have been brought down to 8.73 percent from 14.33. Hossain said system losses usually takes place for technical and non-technical including illegal connections and other cable related defaults, adding, “Access to quality and reliable electricity is no more a dream as the country’s 98 percent people are now getting uninterrupted supply of power, which was only 47 percent before 2009.”

According to power and energy ministry, the government has installed 116 power plants, which was only 27 before 2009 and the power generation capacity has stood at 24,594 MW, per capita electricity generation reached to 512 kWh and power connections have been increased to 3.94 crore.

Considering the future electricity demand, the government has undertaken initiatives to construct about 9,000MW by 2030 and 20,000MW by 2041 coal-based power plants, both in public and private sectors.

With proper supervision of the ministry, transmission line has been expanded to 12,647 circuit kilometer, distribution line is now 5.97 lakh and capacity of grid sub-station (MVA) reached 49,234.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the incumbent government made tremendous success in power sector because of the farsighted and capable leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He said the government is also importing 1,160 MW power from neighboring country.

Apart from this, power sector is unbundled with generation, transmission and distribution. It has six generation, one transmission and five distribution entities.

The distribution companies have undertaken various projects to bring entire power consumers under smart prepayment metering system and some 38,71,124 smart prepayment meters so far were installed meters till January 31, 2021.

The state minister said six distribution companies will bring total 3,86,28,851 power consumers under smart prepayment metering system so far within 2023.

Besides, the government has been constructing nuclear power plant, coal fired power plant, solar based power plant along other small scale power plants to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the country, he said.