Loadshedding in country reaches over 500 MW

Loadshedding in the capital and elsewhere in the country has been rising following the closure of operation, due to a fire incident, of Meghnaghat 450 MW combined cycle power plant. All the three units of the plant had to be shutdown immediately after the fire broke out at its steam turbine unit on Monday evening. According to official sources, the extent of load shedding has gone up to about 550 MW from last week’s below 200 MW. Neither the officials of the Power Development Board (PDB), nor the operator of the Meghnaghat power plant could say when the plant would be able to resume its operation. “We’re not in any position to give an idea of the plant’s resumption of operation. Until the completion of a full assessment, we’ll not get any idea of the plant’s condition,” said Ahmed Shah, country director of the Malaysian Pendeker Energy, the sponsor of the plant. He informed that an inspection team from the insurance companies will arrive in Dhaka on Thursday to asses the damage to the plant and make a report on the condition, according to a news agency.