Power cut may increase again
Loadshedding is likely to increase again as the government has decided to divert gas supply to fertiliser factories from some of the power plants.
“Irrigation season is ahead. This time the country will need huge fertiliser. So, the government has decided to divert gas supply to fertiliser factories from some power plants as priority,” Energy Secretary Mesbahuddin said at a press briefing yesterday at the Power and Energy Ministry in the city.
Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Taufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, who was present at the briefing, admitted that the extent of loadshedding will again go up because of the decision to divert gas supply to the fertiliser factories.
“Definitely, loadshedding will go up as there will be a slump in power production after the decision. At the same time, the demand for power will also drop in the coming winter. So, there will be some balance,” he said.
The government in March this year closed most of the fertiliser factories to divert gas supply to power plants in order to increase electricity generation.
As a result, the power production has increased and crossed the level of 4000 MW against a demand for more than 5500 MW.
Now, the closed fertiliser factories, including Jamuna Fertiliser, Ghorasal Fertiliser, Chittagong Urea Fertiliser and KAFCO will resume operation gradually.
The energy secretary said the industries ministry will be told to resume operation of the Chittaging Urea Fertiliser immediately while KAFCO will be asked to resume production within a month.
According to the PM's adviser, if these fertiliser factories resume production, power generation will decrease at least by 300-350 MW.
The energy secretary said the government decision to keep the CNG refueling stations closed six hours every day will continue for another three months despite the threat by the pump owners for a greater movement.
Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said that his ministry has taken a decision to set up eight more power plants having total capacity of 2600-3500 MW in the private sector. Some of the plants will be liquid fuel-based while some of others will be coal-based.
This will be an addition to the government's plan to install power plants with total capacity of 11,000 MW by 2015, he informed.
Azad said about 60-70 proposals from the private sector entrepreneurs, who are keen to set up small power plants, are pending with the power ministry.
He claimed that despite a moratorium on new power connections in Dhaka, the electricity demand grew 17 per cent in recent days.
The power secretary said the battery-run new three wheelers played a major role in increasing the electricity demand as they alone consume 300 MW. But he could not say how many battery-run three wheelers are now plying in the city.
However, many officials in the power sector, preferring anonymity, differed with the power secretary.
“The growth of the battery-run three wheelers is not significant to justify the secretary's claim,” said an official of the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC).
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