Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) today said it expects 1,950 MW to be added in the national grid by end April enabling the state-run entity to ease the existing power rationing amid a current heatwave, says BSS report.
“We expect to receive 1,950 MW electricity from (India’s) Adani power, SS Power of (Chattogram) and (Patuakhali-based) RNPL joint venture within the current month,” BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim told BSS.
He said all these units were coal fired ones and the stalled generations in three Bangladeshi plants would resume as a coal-filled ship was likely to reach Payra seaport on Sunday.
The BPDB chief said Adani kept shut one of its two units supplying power to Bangladesh for the past several weeks due to maintenance purpose while it was expected to be operational again tomorrow.
BPDB officials said according to the schedule, the national grid would start receiving 750 MW from Adani on April 26 while SS Power and RNPL to restart supplying 600 MW each from April 28.
The RNPL is a joint venture Bangladesh’s state-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and Chinese state-run NORINCO. The RNPL will generate 600 MW from April 28.
The BPDB disclosure came as rising temperatures visibly forced many people to stay indoors causing urban fragility amid strained energy systems with the met office reporting a heatwave to sweep over country.
The met office today said they recorded the highest 37.8 degrees Celsius temperature in Rajshahi and 37 degrees Celsius in the capital Dhaka on Saturday. The temperature in Jashore/Khulna region today ranged between 37 and 38 degrees.
The Energy Division, meanwhile, said they took initiatives to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and heavy fuel or HFO alongside coal for power plants to meet intensified electricity demands forcing authorities to opt for power rationing.
“But we are trying to keep Dhaka city out of the load shedding (rationing system),” Power Division’s joint secretary Umme Rehana said.
According to BPDB statistics highest demand is 16,900 MW on Saturday evening while the highest production on Friday evening was 14,196 MW while the state-run entity would calculate highest production today later tonight.
During the current summer the projected electricity demand is 17,000 to 18,500 MW.