Dealing with long-term issues in power sector
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
E. Rasul Bhuiyan
THE existing power plants in the country have a total generation capacity of over 5000 mw. But the same cannot be realised in many cases due to ageing machinery, lack of replacement and repairs. It is possible perhaps to progressively restore fully or near to it the production capacities of the plants by carrying out their rehabilitation, repair and replacement works on a war footing. Previous governments could not do this for reasons of corruption.
But the present government which appears to have the hard resolve to address the major national problems squarely, is expected to have the proper ability and motivation to largely take care of the nagging problem of insufficient power. The attempt at rehabilitation, repair and overhauling of the plants, even with determination will not suddenly increase generation capacities notably. But the same should gradually go on increasing the total supply month after month to create a state of reasonable balance at one stage eventually between demand and supply.
Using of power-saving devices comprehensively throughout the country can also lead to saving of some 700 mw of power. This amount of saved electricity can work wonders under the present acute load shedding operations . Why no moves are being taken to popularise the use of these devices is another enigma. Government on its own can set the trend by using such energy-saving bulbs and other appliances in all its offices and establishments. Private businesses which are making or importing these special bulbs and equipment can be encouraged with special tax and duty concessions to help them to market their products at a lower price. Government should launch regular publicity campaigns to increase their use and also should have other policies going to ensure full switching over to the energy saving devices in all spheres at the fastest.
Meanwhile, every effort should be made to plan and implement better the load shedding operations. This is also possible after getting feedbacks from various types of users about their need, peak time of uses and preferences. A proper and carefully crafted load shedding schedule prepared for the entire country on the basis of such information, breaking it down into area based schedules, can minimise the sufferings of consumers while also keeping life and living and the economy functioning reasonably or tolerably.
Justifications are made such as lack of investments, indecisions and bureaucratic wrangling as the reasons for the current state of the power sector in the country. But more than any of these factors or all of them combined, or if one were to make an honest effort to identify the main reason for the failings in this sector, then it would very likely emerge that pervasive corruption is the main cause of the dismally performing power sector. For example, it was established after investigations that a sum of Taka 20 billion was found missing from the accounts held by the authorities of the Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA). There were no records of the spending of this amount of money. In other words, the same was simply misappropriated.
Thus, a very big challenge in the power sector is to flush it clean of corruption. The present government should give priority to increasing power supply. But it should also aim to deep cleanse the very great corruption in the power sector. ACC authorities ought to duly start proceedings against the corrupt officials in this sector. Focused activities of the government aimed at the nabobs of corruption in the sector are yet not noted. But a good start must be made in this area at the soonest because the power sector has been one of the worst corruption-afflicted sectors in recent years. There must be drastic actions against this corruption.
The quality of life and living has become wretched for a very large number of countrymen from power shortage. And the economic losses are too obvious. According to a recent report of a multilateral capital donor, 64 per cent of industries of different types in Bangladesh have become heavily dependent on generators. This compares with 25 per cent in India and 2.0 or 3.0 per cent in Thailand and China. Thus, from having to produce their own power expensively, Bangladeshi industries have seriously eroded their competitiveness.
If it keeps on like this, many could go out of business fairly soon and potential entrepreneurs will hold back from materialising their plans out of a concern that they would have no electricity to run their newly established industries.
Thus, people are desperate to have the power supply augmented immediately and from any source. Holding out the carrot of a road-map of power self sufficiency by 2013 will not do. People want immediate relief which can be provided from taking realistic steps instantly that would add power to the national grid.
THE existing power plants in the country have a total generation capacity of over 5000 mw. But the same cannot be realised in many cases due to ageing machinery, lack of replacement and repairs. It is possible perhaps to progressively restore fully or near to it the production capacities of the plants by carrying out their rehabilitation, repair and replacement works on a war footing. Previous governments could not do this for reasons of corruption.
But the present government which appears to have the hard resolve to address the major national problems squarely, is expected to have the proper ability and motivation to largely take care of the nagging problem of insufficient power. The attempt at rehabilitation, repair and overhauling of the plants, even with determination will not suddenly increase generation capacities notably. But the same should gradually go on increasing the total supply month after month to create a state of reasonable balance at one stage eventually between demand and supply.
Using of power-saving devices comprehensively throughout the country can also lead to saving of some 700 mw of power. This amount of saved electricity can work wonders under the present acute load shedding operations . Why no moves are being taken to popularise the use of these devices is another enigma. Government on its own can set the trend by using such energy-saving bulbs and other appliances in all its offices and establishments. Private businesses which are making or importing these special bulbs and equipment can be encouraged with special tax and duty concessions to help them to market their products at a lower price. Government should launch regular publicity campaigns to increase their use and also should have other policies going to ensure full switching over to the energy saving devices in all spheres at the fastest.
Meanwhile, every effort should be made to plan and implement better the load shedding operations. This is also possible after getting feedbacks from various types of users about their need, peak time of uses and preferences. A proper and carefully crafted load shedding schedule prepared for the entire country on the basis of such information, breaking it down into area based schedules, can minimise the sufferings of consumers while also keeping life and living and the economy functioning reasonably or tolerably.
Justifications are made such as lack of investments, indecisions and bureaucratic wrangling as the reasons for the current state of the power sector in the country. But more than any of these factors or all of them combined, or if one were to make an honest effort to identify the main reason for the failings in this sector, then it would very likely emerge that pervasive corruption is the main cause of the dismally performing power sector. For example, it was established after investigations that a sum of Taka 20 billion was found missing from the accounts held by the authorities of the Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA). There were no records of the spending of this amount of money. In other words, the same was simply misappropriated.
Thus, a very big challenge in the power sector is to flush it clean of corruption. The present government should give priority to increasing power supply. But it should also aim to deep cleanse the very great corruption in the power sector. ACC authorities ought to duly start proceedings against the corrupt officials in this sector. Focused activities of the government aimed at the nabobs of corruption in the sector are yet not noted. But a good start must be made in this area at the soonest because the power sector has been one of the worst corruption-afflicted sectors in recent years. There must be drastic actions against this corruption.
The quality of life and living has become wretched for a very large number of countrymen from power shortage. And the economic losses are too obvious. According to a recent report of a multilateral capital donor, 64 per cent of industries of different types in Bangladesh have become heavily dependent on generators. This compares with 25 per cent in India and 2.0 or 3.0 per cent in Thailand and China. Thus, from having to produce their own power expensively, Bangladeshi industries have seriously eroded their competitiveness.
If it keeps on like this, many could go out of business fairly soon and potential entrepreneurs will hold back from materialising their plans out of a concern that they would have no electricity to run their newly established industries.
Thus, people are desperate to have the power supply augmented immediately and from any source. Holding out the carrot of a road-map of power self sufficiency by 2013 will not do. People want immediate relief which can be provided from taking realistic steps instantly that would add power to the national grid.