Power crisis in 21southwestern dists will not ease soon
Twenty-one south-western districts are reeling under severe power outage since Friday night as four plants of Khulna Power Station (KPS) are out of a order due to technical glitches.
The severe power outage have virtually paralysed life and economic activities of people already shattered by price hike of essentials including rice.
Industrial units, particularly in and around Khulna city, are the worst victims of the power outages.
On an average, Khulna and neighbouring districts had 12 hours of load-shedding on Saturday as the 110 mw power plant went out of order from 11:35 pm Friday for the 13th time in last 15 months.
As a result, 265 mw power was supplied against the total need for about 650 mw in south-western region comprising 10 districts in Khulna division, six in Barisal division and five districts in greater Faridpur.
The 110 mw power plant will not be able to go into operation before the first week of next month as its tubes have developed leakages for use of saline water of nearby Bhairab river, said KPS chief engineer. The plant would produce at least 60 mw power a day when in operation, he said.
The old 60 mw unit which is inoperative since July 5, 2006 is now undergoing overhauling. It can not be said when overhauling will be completed, KPS sources said firm named Scoda company.
Czech copany Scoda began the overhauling work in 2005. An amount of Tk 70 crore has already been drawing against the overhauling work.
The 28 mw barge mounted power plant-1 and 28 mw barge mounted power plant-2 are out of order since August 27 last year and December 3 of the same year respectively, also due to major mechanical glitches. Each of the two units could supply at least 25 mw power while in operation.
Highly placed sources in Power Development Board (PDB) said the power crisis in south-western districts can not be resolved without setting up new power plants and increasing capacity of the national grid.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments