The Power Division has hinted that there might be a 1,000 megawatt (mw) electricity shortfall in the summer and plans to devise a distribution and diversity load mechanism to cope with the shortage, officials said.
During summer, peak time irrigation and heat load require 4,000 mw of additional electricity.
Officials of the division made a hint that the government would not be capable enough to meet the growing demand and that there would be a 1,000 mw electricity shortage.
Against the existing 6,000 mw generation the total demand during summer would be 10,000mw; but in fact it would be 8,500mw due to the steps to be taken in managing the consumption within production capacity.
According to a source in the Power Division, the government is trying to meet the load from different sources and it is likely to provide maximum 7,500 mw in the national grid with a 1,000 mw shortfall.
Director General (DG) of the Power Cell at the Power Division Mohammad Hossain said as the existing plants have 11,000 mw generating capacity so it is possible to increase production.
He said the government is trying to meet the summer consumption on its best by increasing production from the existing plants and from several new plants which are already under construction.
He said in summer peak time irrigation load becomes 1,600 mw and heat load becomes 2,500 mw making a total of about 4,000 mw of additional electricity.
Another official at the Power Cell said to meet the demand the irrigation schedule would be after midnight.
He said this year the government is planning to take some new measures in rationing the load and manage it district and division-wise.
He said the new measures of diversifying load would reduce frequent load shedding.
He said to meet the demand of power there would be a maximum of an hour-long load shedding in the peak time and irrigation load would be shifted after mid night.
According to a source at the Power Division a number of new oil-fired power plants are already under construction.
He said as gas crisis is deepening and it is not available everywhere; so the government has taken the measures to install oil-powered plants in the zones where gas is not available but power crisis is high.
He said once the new plants are commissioned, it would generate some 250 mw of electricity and would help to reduce the summer time shortage.
The Power Cell DG said the summer load has already been increasing for the last several days.
He said they have a record demand for 650 plus mw of power consumption across the country.
himelshamsul@gmail.com
1,000 MW power shortfall likely during summer
Shamsul Huda | Published: March 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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