Most decades-old power plants consume more energy
M Azizur Rahman | Monday, 21 March 2011
M Azizur Rahman
Most of the country's decades-old power plants are either remaining shut or their units are operational at lower capacitates, a top Power Development Board (PDB) official told the FE. The maximum acceptable life-span of any power plant is 20 years, he said. The old power plants consume more energy than the new ones, which has been threatening the country's long-term energy security, he said. Among the aged power plants supplying electricity at below-expectation capacities include Ghorashal power plant, Ashuganj power plant, Rauzan power plant in Chittagong, Khulna power plant, Shahjibazar power plant, Barisal power plant, Barapukuria power plant and Shidhhirganj power plant. The installed capacity of Ghorashal power plant is 840mw, but the plant now generates only 300mw of electricity. The installed capacity of Ashuganj power plant is 610mw, but the plant is generating around 300mw of electricity. The Rauzan power plant has the installed capacity to generate 420mw, but its electricity generation is hovering around 270mw. Pointing to energy consumption by aging power plants, a senior Petrobangla official said the old Ghorashal power plant's natural gas requirement is 185 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to generate 840mw electricity, while the new 240mw modern Shiddhirganj power plant requires only 20 mmcfd of gas for electricity generation. Besides, the aged power plants trip very frequently and their overhauling is time-consuming and expensive. More on Page 7
Most of the country's decades-old power plants are either remaining shut or their units are operational at lower capacitates, a top Power Development Board (PDB) official told the FE. The maximum acceptable life-span of any power plant is 20 years, he said. The old power plants consume more energy than the new ones, which has been threatening the country's long-term energy security, he said. Among the aged power plants supplying electricity at below-expectation capacities include Ghorashal power plant, Ashuganj power plant, Rauzan power plant in Chittagong, Khulna power plant, Shahjibazar power plant, Barisal power plant, Barapukuria power plant and Shidhhirganj power plant. The installed capacity of Ghorashal power plant is 840mw, but the plant now generates only 300mw of electricity. The installed capacity of Ashuganj power plant is 610mw, but the plant is generating around 300mw of electricity. The Rauzan power plant has the installed capacity to generate 420mw, but its electricity generation is hovering around 270mw. Pointing to energy consumption by aging power plants, a senior Petrobangla official said the old Ghorashal power plant's natural gas requirement is 185 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to generate 840mw electricity, while the new 240mw modern Shiddhirganj power plant requires only 20 mmcfd of gas for electricity generation. Besides, the aged power plants trip very frequently and their overhauling is time-consuming and expensive. More on Page 7