Power supply situation worsens further

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FE Report
The country's power supply situation has aggravated further due to suspension of two big power units.
Sources in the Power Development Board (PDB) Wednesday told the FE that due to gas supply shortage the Board suspended the 210-megawatt (MW) power unit at Rauzan plant on November 3. Besides, another 210MW unit at Siddhirganj plant also tripped on October 31 due to technical fault.
An official in the PDB said the shutdown of the two big power units has cut the total power generation capacity to 3350MW Wednesday leading to the supply shortfall of over 700 MW of power across the country.
The country's demand for power is more than 4000MW.
Besides, some other power production units including the 125MW power unit at Barapukuria, 210MW and 55MW units at Ghorasal, 71MW at Baghabari, 80MW at Tongi and 150MW at Ashuganj power station remained inoperative for a long time, the official stated.
He said since the gas supply from Sangu, the country's lone offshore gas field, has dropped remarkably in recent days, the Rauzan power plant has not been getting adequate gas over the last few days forcing the closure of the plant.
Petrobangla sources said the Scottish company-Cairn-operated Sangu gas field is now producing only 66 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) against its original capacity of more that 160MMCFD.
The sources said although the Sangu gas field supplied 66MMCFD of gas to the Rauzan power plant on November 3 the supply came down to 33.6MMCFD on November 6.
The PDB official said if they could complete the overhauling, rehabilitation and repair works of the closed power units within the stipulated time and get adequate gas supply, the electricity supply would improve from next month.