Load shedding in Ctg to continue till month-end

City areas plunge into darkness several times every night. Power Development Board (PDB) sources say immediate end to the crisis is unlikely.

PDB officials say there is an average load shedding of 40MW in Chittagong city since February 25 due to generation shortfall as one of the two units of 420 MW Raozan Power Plant is shut for overhauling.

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Overhauling of an 210 MW unit began in the first week of January, bringing down average power generation to around 300 MW against the daily requirement of over 420MW, they said.

A portion of the shortfall is met by power supply from the national grid. Load shedding is unavoidable as the shortfall is substantial.

The overhauling may be completed this month, they said.

When contacted, Chittagong PDB Chief Engineer Liaqat Hossain Barobhuiyan said, "We are trying to minimise the load shedding".

Around 580 MW power is generated in Chittagong when all the plants -- 420 MW Raozan Power Plant, 230-MW Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant and 60-MW Burge-mounted Power Plant -- are in full operation.

Power Secretary SM Shamsul Alam during a day-long visit to Chittagong on Tuesday last inspected the overhaul work of Raozan Power Plant.

He directed PDB officials and Chinese engineers engaged in the work overhaul to complete the work by March 31.

The Chinese engineers informed the Power Secretary that they were bringing a 15-member team of experts from China soon for the overhaul.

Shamsul Alam also visited Kaptai Power Plant and later held a meeting with officials of PDB and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) at PDB rest house.

At the meeting, the secretary directed all concerned to work sincerely to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) examination, sources said.

PDB Member (Distribution) MB Barua, Chief Engineer, Chittagong, Liaqat Hossain Barobhuiyan, Chief Engineer of Kaptai Power Plant Abdul Kader Khan and PGCB Deputy General Manager Rafiqul Alam were present at the meeting.