Gas-starved plants generate 564mw less power
Monday, 17 March 2008
M Azizur Rahman
Gas supply constraint has started taking a toll with the very onset of the current summer season. As many as ten power plants have been forced to generate electricity well below their individual capacity, resulting in the nagging problem of load shedding across the country, official sources said.
"Power generation was less to the extent of 564 megawatt Sunday as some power plants did not get adequate gas supply," a senior Power Development Board (PDB) official told the FE Sunday.
He expressed the fear that power supply situation might deteriorate further with the increase in the intensity of heat next month.
Special aide to chief adviser M Tamim, however, has assured that power supply would increase by at least 200 MW from April next.
He said the gas supply to power plants would increase from next month as a significant portion of gas, now being supplied to fertiliser factories, would be diverted to power plants after the current Boro season.
Power generation on Sunday was around 3900 MW across the country against the demand for over 5,000 MW.
Gas production was, however, around 1686 million cubic feet (mmcf) Sunday against the demand for 1830 mmcf of the same.
Power plants across the country consumed about 642 mmcf of gas Sunday, while the fertiliser factories 181 mmcf.
Frequent power failure has started taking a toll on the day-to-day activities of the city dwellers.
Gas supply problem in the Chittagong region reached its peak with the declining gas production from the country's lone offshore Sangu gas field.
Persistent gas transmission problem to carry abundant gas from the gas-rich northeastern region has been deepening the gas crisis further, a senior energy ministry official said.
Power generation of around 60 MW is now suspended in Rauzan power plant in Chittagong due to gas supply shortage.
Two units at Shikalbaha power plant, having the total generation capacity of 88 MW, are now totally closed due to gas supply constraint.
About 200 MW of electricity generation has now been halted in Ghorashal power plant due to gas shortage.
In Shiddhirganj power plant gas supply shortfall has forced the closure of power generation of around 90 MW.
Power plant belonging to the Rural Power Company Ltd (RPCL) of Mymensingh has stopped generation of 30 mw power due to short supply of gas.
Gas supply shortfall has forced the Haripur power plant to generate 32mw less power.
Similar, the Shahzibazar power plant is producing 20mw less power.
Gas supply constraint has started taking a toll with the very onset of the current summer season. As many as ten power plants have been forced to generate electricity well below their individual capacity, resulting in the nagging problem of load shedding across the country, official sources said.
"Power generation was less to the extent of 564 megawatt Sunday as some power plants did not get adequate gas supply," a senior Power Development Board (PDB) official told the FE Sunday.
He expressed the fear that power supply situation might deteriorate further with the increase in the intensity of heat next month.
Special aide to chief adviser M Tamim, however, has assured that power supply would increase by at least 200 MW from April next.
He said the gas supply to power plants would increase from next month as a significant portion of gas, now being supplied to fertiliser factories, would be diverted to power plants after the current Boro season.
Power generation on Sunday was around 3900 MW across the country against the demand for over 5,000 MW.
Gas production was, however, around 1686 million cubic feet (mmcf) Sunday against the demand for 1830 mmcf of the same.
Power plants across the country consumed about 642 mmcf of gas Sunday, while the fertiliser factories 181 mmcf.
Frequent power failure has started taking a toll on the day-to-day activities of the city dwellers.
Gas supply problem in the Chittagong region reached its peak with the declining gas production from the country's lone offshore Sangu gas field.
Persistent gas transmission problem to carry abundant gas from the gas-rich northeastern region has been deepening the gas crisis further, a senior energy ministry official said.
Power generation of around 60 MW is now suspended in Rauzan power plant in Chittagong due to gas supply shortage.
Two units at Shikalbaha power plant, having the total generation capacity of 88 MW, are now totally closed due to gas supply constraint.
About 200 MW of electricity generation has now been halted in Ghorashal power plant due to gas shortage.
In Shiddhirganj power plant gas supply shortfall has forced the closure of power generation of around 90 MW.
Power plant belonging to the Rural Power Company Ltd (RPCL) of Mymensingh has stopped generation of 30 mw power due to short supply of gas.
Gas supply shortfall has forced the Haripur power plant to generate 32mw less power.
Similar, the Shahzibazar power plant is producing 20mw less power.