4 power plants go out of operation aggravating crisis

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FE Report
Three large power units with a combined capacity of 325-megawatt (MW) faced closure within a span of one week aggravating the power crisis throughout the country.
Sources in the Power Development Board (PDB) told the FE last night that the 210MW and 55MW units of the Ghorasal power plant and the 60MW unit of Sikolbaha power plant went out of operation between September 24 and 28 causing a production shortfall of around 1000MW Tuesday.
Besides, the PDB sources added, production in the 125MW unit in Barapukuria power plant was suspended since September 17 for maintenance works.
All the operative power plants generated around 3600MW of electricity Tuesday peak-hours (evening) against the total demand of more than 4300MW throughout the country, the sources said.
A PDB official opined though they had been able to supply 3900MW to 4100MW electricity during the first two weeks of Ramadan due to resumption of some power plants that were under maintenance for several months, but the situation has reversed due to suspension of some four to five big power units within the last few days.
He said all the operative power plants on September 17 generated 4130MW electricity which was the highest ever.
Residents in some areas in the capital claimed that they experienced three to four hours of load-shedding Tuesday.
Some residents in Mirpur, Mohammadpur and Malibagh told the FE last night that they had been facing frequent load-shedding even during the Iftar and Tarabi prayer over the last couple of days.
Sources in the PDB stated that apart from the above four units, some other power units including a 150MW unit at Ashuganj, two units of Haripur power station, having a combined generation capacity of 64MW, two units at Shahjibazar power plant, having a combine capacity of 60MW, the 60MW Khulna power plant and the 71MW Baghabari power plants were out of operation for many days as those were too old to run effectively.