Prospect of power generation not bright
Friday, 6 January 2012
The much-hyped energy roadmap of the ruling coalition seems to have hit a snag. With the discloser made on January 04 by none other than the chairman of Petrobangla that given known reserves of natural gas, the country may fall short of achieving the envisaged goal of generating 7,000 megawatts (MWs) of electricity through gas-powered plants, a question mark now hangs on the roadmap. Were we to take his statement even at its face value, the power-system master plan of the Power Development Board (PDB) will require a major shift in focus. What has become obvious is that the age of virtually total dependence on natural gas to generate electricity is fast coming to an end and that we must look for alternative fuel sources today and not some time in the distant future.
However, certain facts dished out there have left us somewhat baffled. Then again, the options that have been hinted at include "nuclear, coal or liquefied fuel as alternatives to generate electricity". But to be pertinent to the subject in question requires major rethinking in terms of overall planning and execution. The nuclear option that has been adopted will add a mere 1,000 - 2,000 megawatts of electricity which will come on line in a period of no less than five years. It is exactly at such a time, the question of coal extraction remains in limbo over the indecision concerning open pit mining or not. Indeed, by all accounts, the government is yet to make a policy option about the whole issue of coal mining, while the issue of importing liquefied fuel (LNG) is even more far-fetched as it will require heavy-duty investments in infrastructural development, particularly in areas of ports, railway, transmission pipelines etc.
Of the original PDB plan to generate 8,850 MWs, only about 32 per cent was earmarked to be generated from natural gas. Given the resource and other constraints involved in coal extraction and LNG import, what should be the country's viable option? Either thermal power plants or plants run by renewable energy are the known options. With a proven reserve of high quality coal, the immediate plan of action ought to be the setting up of a large coal-fired power plant. Admittedly, such power plants are not environmentally sound; so the mid- and long-term power generation plan should focus on solar and wind power. A policy shift in this regard can make a whole lot of difference. Already, villages with smaller amount of power consumption for households are reaping the benefits of solar power programmes undertaken by one large NGO and a few other companies.
Similarly wind power can be quite beneficially harnessed in the coastal belts of the country. So, small projects rather than the mega ones can produce enough power for the rural community. When the pressure gets eased to a large extent on PDB-generated electricity, it surely will be able to divert a significant amount thus saved to industrial uses. Finally, to make the national grid serve the nation better all sources of energy must contribute together under a well-devised plan.
However, certain facts dished out there have left us somewhat baffled. Then again, the options that have been hinted at include "nuclear, coal or liquefied fuel as alternatives to generate electricity". But to be pertinent to the subject in question requires major rethinking in terms of overall planning and execution. The nuclear option that has been adopted will add a mere 1,000 - 2,000 megawatts of electricity which will come on line in a period of no less than five years. It is exactly at such a time, the question of coal extraction remains in limbo over the indecision concerning open pit mining or not. Indeed, by all accounts, the government is yet to make a policy option about the whole issue of coal mining, while the issue of importing liquefied fuel (LNG) is even more far-fetched as it will require heavy-duty investments in infrastructural development, particularly in areas of ports, railway, transmission pipelines etc.
Of the original PDB plan to generate 8,850 MWs, only about 32 per cent was earmarked to be generated from natural gas. Given the resource and other constraints involved in coal extraction and LNG import, what should be the country's viable option? Either thermal power plants or plants run by renewable energy are the known options. With a proven reserve of high quality coal, the immediate plan of action ought to be the setting up of a large coal-fired power plant. Admittedly, such power plants are not environmentally sound; so the mid- and long-term power generation plan should focus on solar and wind power. A policy shift in this regard can make a whole lot of difference. Already, villages with smaller amount of power consumption for households are reaping the benefits of solar power programmes undertaken by one large NGO and a few other companies.
Similarly wind power can be quite beneficially harnessed in the coastal belts of the country. So, small projects rather than the mega ones can produce enough power for the rural community. When the pressure gets eased to a large extent on PDB-generated electricity, it surely will be able to divert a significant amount thus saved to industrial uses. Finally, to make the national grid serve the nation better all sources of energy must contribute together under a well-devised plan.