State-owned West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) wants to ensure 100 percent electricity facility for all in its distribution area by June, a top official said. As per government’s pronouncement of bringing every house under electricity coverage by 2021, currently around 95 percent people have come under electricity coverage.
A noticeable thrust in the power sector will enable the government to ensure electricity for all people by this year, according to power division official. Six state-owned power distribution companies are working to supply electricity across the country. WZPDCL is one of these. It was constituted as an electricity distribution company in November 2002. The state-owned company is working for distribution of electricity in the western zone (Khulna Division, Barisal Division and Greater Faridpur comprising 21 districts and 20 upazilla excluding REB area in the country.
Engineer Mohammad Shafique Uddin, Managing Director of WZPDCL told Bangladesh Post, “98 percent of the people are now getting electricity facility in our distribution area. Hope we can bring entire distribution area under 100 per cent electricity coverage by next June.”
“Bearing in mind the slogan of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for ensuing electricity in all households, we are working to provide power to remote areas like Monpura of Bhola. We have a plan to set up a gas based mini power plant there,” he added. WZPDCL official said more 6 lakh users will come under electricity coverage by 2021. To this end, two different projects ‘Expansion and Upgradation of Power Distribution System in West Zone Area’ and ‘Extension & Augmentation of Power Distribution System Project in West Zone Area’ are under construction. Both the projects will be finished and completed by 2021.
The first project was taken up in July 2016. Some 31 new sub-stations will be built under this project. Besides, existing 32 sub-stations will be brought under renovation, more than a 500 kilometer new line will be built and the 600 kilometer old line will be renovated. And also 1772 distribution transformers will be installed.
Another project was taken up in July 2017. Under this project, a 2400 km new line will be constructed and the 2400 km old line will be brought under renovation. Some 2530 distribution transformers will also be installed under the project. Besides, residential and non-residential (office and others) civil work will be done.
‘The country has witnessed an unprecedented development in the power sector in last one decade. And it has been possible due to the real-time sustainable planning and initiatives undertaken by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,’ according to the power division.