Country’s electricity generation has set new record with 13,064 megawatts on Saturday night, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) officials said.
Earlier, the highest electricity generation was on April 3, at 9 pm, with 13,016 MW.
Saiful Hasan Chowdhury, Director (Public Relations) of BPDB, told media, "Some of the power plants are under maintenance. Other oil and gas fired power plants were operational. This record is set at 9 pm on Saturday. At that time there was no load shedding as electricity was generated as per the demand.”
As of Saturday, Bangladesh’s installed power generation capacity, including captive power and renewable energy, is 24,982 MW, with 99% of the population having access to electricity.
In addition, on April 2, the highest power generation was 12,893 MW. Earlier, on May 30, 2019, 12,893 MW of electricity was generated.
The BPDB has already taken up an extensive capacity expansion plan to give a boost to the power sector, aiming to generate 40,000MW electricity by 2030.
According to Power Division, when the Awami League-led government assumed office in 2009, the nation was suffering a chronic power supply crisis. Many industries, factories and business establishments shut their activities in the face of power outages and low voltage. Those days are now gone. Bangladesh has now transformed from a power-shortage country into a power-surplus country.
The visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and proper planning of her government have earned the country the colossal success in electricity generation.
In 2009, the average power demand at the time was about 6,000MW while power generation capacity of the country was less than 5000MW. Eight to ten hours load-shedding in summer days was causing unbearable miseries. Now the installed capacity has increased to 24,982 MW.
The present government has implemented various projects to set up coal-based power plants as an alternative to natural gas. Some mega projects are being implemented at Payra, Moheshkhali and Matarbari, classifying these areas as power hubs.
The country’s first nuclear power plant is now under construction at Rooppur in Pabna. Construction work of the power plant with two units, with the total capacity of 2,400MW is going on fast. It would produce and be added to the national grid by 2023-2024. Besides, the government has planned to build the country’s second nuclear power plant in the southern region.
