Power supply shortfall in country worsens
Sunday, 19 April 2009
FE Report
Power supply shortfall has aggravated in the country Saturday as three power units having nearly 210-megawatt (mw) production capacity at Ashuganj power station were suspended, Power Development Board officials said Saturday.
The gas-fired 150mw unit was closed for routine maintenance works while a 40mw gas turbine and an 18mw steam turbine unit tripped early Saturday, an official said.
The generation failure at the Ashuganj power station brought down the total electricity generation to 3550mw Saturday against the demand for nearly 5000mw across the country.
In addition, PDB officials said, due to inadequate supply of gas, electricity generation has decreased by about 550mw from the actual capacity of other power stations in operation.
Some city people said they faced at least eight to 10 times of power outages each time -- lasting one hour -- on Saturday.
The higher secondary school examinees were the worst victims of the power supply failure as they were facing difficulties in preparing for their next examinations in the unbearable hot weather.
"My daughter is failing to prepare her study due to continuous electricity disruptions. Who will answer for her less preparedness for the examination?" said Shahana, a mother of an examinee in Mirpur.
"We've no ability to procure an instant power supplier. My daughter cannot study in the evening without electricity amid hot weather. I am very worried how she will fare in the exams," she added.
The power blackout also adversely hit the industrial productions, business and CNG refueling activities.
Many CNG filling stations in the capital suspended their work during the power outage period, which created hardship to the vehicles owners in refueling their cars.
The power disruption led to acute water crisis in the capital as the Dhaka WASA failed to run their pumps to supply water to the consumers.
Total electricity supply capacity of the PDB has shrunk because some 10 other power units are out of operation due to maintenance works, the state-owned power supplier said.
The PDB official said they supplied 1300mw of power to the capital city and its adjacent areas against the demand for over 1800mw in Saturday peak-hour.
Power supply shortfall has aggravated in the country Saturday as three power units having nearly 210-megawatt (mw) production capacity at Ashuganj power station were suspended, Power Development Board officials said Saturday.
The gas-fired 150mw unit was closed for routine maintenance works while a 40mw gas turbine and an 18mw steam turbine unit tripped early Saturday, an official said.
The generation failure at the Ashuganj power station brought down the total electricity generation to 3550mw Saturday against the demand for nearly 5000mw across the country.
In addition, PDB officials said, due to inadequate supply of gas, electricity generation has decreased by about 550mw from the actual capacity of other power stations in operation.
Some city people said they faced at least eight to 10 times of power outages each time -- lasting one hour -- on Saturday.
The higher secondary school examinees were the worst victims of the power supply failure as they were facing difficulties in preparing for their next examinations in the unbearable hot weather.
"My daughter is failing to prepare her study due to continuous electricity disruptions. Who will answer for her less preparedness for the examination?" said Shahana, a mother of an examinee in Mirpur.
"We've no ability to procure an instant power supplier. My daughter cannot study in the evening without electricity amid hot weather. I am very worried how she will fare in the exams," she added.
The power blackout also adversely hit the industrial productions, business and CNG refueling activities.
Many CNG filling stations in the capital suspended their work during the power outage period, which created hardship to the vehicles owners in refueling their cars.
The power disruption led to acute water crisis in the capital as the Dhaka WASA failed to run their pumps to supply water to the consumers.
Total electricity supply capacity of the PDB has shrunk because some 10 other power units are out of operation due to maintenance works, the state-owned power supplier said.
The PDB official said they supplied 1300mw of power to the capital city and its adjacent areas against the demand for over 1800mw in Saturday peak-hour.