Experts place 7-point plan to solve power crisis soon
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Experts in a roundtable discussion Saturday advanced a 7-point action plan to implement in 30 days for an immediate remedy to the unbearable power crisis, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
The plan includes closing of shopping centres by 7.0pm, introducing separate holidays for industries in different areas, restricting power supply to neon signboards, mandatory use of generators to operate air-conditioners by individual high-rise buildings, rationing of gas to industries including fertiliser, ensuring installation of rental power plants by June this year, and mass campaign for public awareness.
A number of experts took part in the roundtable, organised by Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) at its auditorium. IEB, an apex body of the professional engineers, will soon place the recommendations to the government.
State Minister for Power and Energy Shamsul Haque Tuku, who spoke at the function as the special guest, told the discussants that the government is utilising all possible options to increase power and gas supply.
"I still believe, we've enough gas, and we have to explore and extract it. We're taking all measures to improve the supply of power and gas," he said.
Tuku told reporters on the sideline of the meet that the government would resort to the last option of gas import only when there will be no other options.
"But the situation is improving and we're hopeful of further improvement. Power generation has now reached 3,800-MW from 3,200-MW".
He pointed out that the government was giving the highest priority to supply power to the rural areas to support the Boro production.
The IEB roundtable on "Power Crisis: Issues and Challenges" also adopted a medium-term action plan for implementation in six months, and a long-term action plan for implementation within 2014.
The medium-term plan includes rehabilitation of old power plants, setting up two emergency furnace-oil based 100-MW power plants in Chittagong and Khulna, WASA's mandatory operation of pumps through own generators, and finalising coal policy to promote coal-based power plants in the country.
The long-term plan envisages setting up a number of power plants within 2014. These include 300-MW Siddhirganj power plant, 150-MW Sirajganj, 150-MW Khulna, 150-MW Chandpur, two 100-MW coal-based power plants in Chittagong and Mongla, and setting up a 600-MW nuclear power plant.
It also urged the government to initiate a move to set up a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant in future. Urgent action is required to get the long-mired Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) off the ground and on line by 2016, said experts. It is possible to commence the construction of the plant by 2011, they said.
The plan includes closing of shopping centres by 7.0pm, introducing separate holidays for industries in different areas, restricting power supply to neon signboards, mandatory use of generators to operate air-conditioners by individual high-rise buildings, rationing of gas to industries including fertiliser, ensuring installation of rental power plants by June this year, and mass campaign for public awareness.
A number of experts took part in the roundtable, organised by Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) at its auditorium. IEB, an apex body of the professional engineers, will soon place the recommendations to the government.
State Minister for Power and Energy Shamsul Haque Tuku, who spoke at the function as the special guest, told the discussants that the government is utilising all possible options to increase power and gas supply.
"I still believe, we've enough gas, and we have to explore and extract it. We're taking all measures to improve the supply of power and gas," he said.
Tuku told reporters on the sideline of the meet that the government would resort to the last option of gas import only when there will be no other options.
"But the situation is improving and we're hopeful of further improvement. Power generation has now reached 3,800-MW from 3,200-MW".
He pointed out that the government was giving the highest priority to supply power to the rural areas to support the Boro production.
The IEB roundtable on "Power Crisis: Issues and Challenges" also adopted a medium-term action plan for implementation in six months, and a long-term action plan for implementation within 2014.
The medium-term plan includes rehabilitation of old power plants, setting up two emergency furnace-oil based 100-MW power plants in Chittagong and Khulna, WASA's mandatory operation of pumps through own generators, and finalising coal policy to promote coal-based power plants in the country.
The long-term plan envisages setting up a number of power plants within 2014. These include 300-MW Siddhirganj power plant, 150-MW Sirajganj, 150-MW Khulna, 150-MW Chandpur, two 100-MW coal-based power plants in Chittagong and Mongla, and setting up a 600-MW nuclear power plant.
It also urged the government to initiate a move to set up a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant in future. Urgent action is required to get the long-mired Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) off the ground and on line by 2016, said experts. It is possible to commence the construction of the plant by 2011, they said.