One power unit closed, another starts operation
Saturday, 9 June 2007
FE Report
The Power Development Board (PDB) shuts down today (Saturday) unit-2 of the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant, having 125-megawatt (MW) generation capacity for urgent maintenance purpose.
"It will take at least 10 days to complete the maintenance work of the plant," a PDB press release said.
The PDB Tuesday resumed power generation in unit-1 of the plant having 125 MW capacity.
The authorities turned off the unit on May 17 last for overhauling and maintenance purpose.
PDB produced 3279 MW power until Friday against the demand for 4400 MW.
bdnews24.com report adds: The Power Development Board (PDB) is "going slow" in installing new power lines and expanding its clientele in the wake of precarious power crunch countrywide.
By March 2008, power production may rise by a maximum of 100-200 megawatts (MW), said a PDB official preferring to remain unnamed.
The official said the current caretaker government at the outset of its tenure verbally instructed the PDB to be restrictive in offering new connections.
Such instructions were necessary because the 1910 Power Act makes it mandatory for the power suppliers to oblige any taxpayer formally requesting a new connection, he said.
The PDB earlier would give a new connection within 10 days of receiving formal application, which now takes about a month, the official said.
The government made the move to see off summer when the power demand reaches its peak, he said.
The PDB puts the daily power shortfall at over 1000 MW.
The official said another 600 MW would be added to the capacity in the next two months. But at the same time, five units producing 554 MW in total will have to be shut down for repair and maintenance.
Khijir Khan, the PDB chairman, told the news agency the power plants are now producing 3500-3600 MW electricity while 25 per cent plants are being maintained.
International convention has it that a third of a country's plants may be kept steady at the most, he said.
The Power Development Board (PDB) shuts down today (Saturday) unit-2 of the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant, having 125-megawatt (MW) generation capacity for urgent maintenance purpose.
"It will take at least 10 days to complete the maintenance work of the plant," a PDB press release said.
The PDB Tuesday resumed power generation in unit-1 of the plant having 125 MW capacity.
The authorities turned off the unit on May 17 last for overhauling and maintenance purpose.
PDB produced 3279 MW power until Friday against the demand for 4400 MW.
bdnews24.com report adds: The Power Development Board (PDB) is "going slow" in installing new power lines and expanding its clientele in the wake of precarious power crunch countrywide.
By March 2008, power production may rise by a maximum of 100-200 megawatts (MW), said a PDB official preferring to remain unnamed.
The official said the current caretaker government at the outset of its tenure verbally instructed the PDB to be restrictive in offering new connections.
Such instructions were necessary because the 1910 Power Act makes it mandatory for the power suppliers to oblige any taxpayer formally requesting a new connection, he said.
The PDB earlier would give a new connection within 10 days of receiving formal application, which now takes about a month, the official said.
The government made the move to see off summer when the power demand reaches its peak, he said.
The PDB puts the daily power shortfall at over 1000 MW.
The official said another 600 MW would be added to the capacity in the next two months. But at the same time, five units producing 554 MW in total will have to be shut down for repair and maintenance.
Khijir Khan, the PDB chairman, told the news agency the power plants are now producing 3500-3600 MW electricity while 25 per cent plants are being maintained.
International convention has it that a third of a country's plants may be kept steady at the most, he said.