Rise in mercury causes frequent power outages
FE Report | Friday, 8 April 2011
FE Report
Power outages have become more frequent again, as the mercury is rising after several spells of summer rain. Besides, thousands of electricity-run irrigation pumps are now in operation to facilitate the ongoing Boro cultivation, augmenting the electricity demand. However, officials at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said the closure of four gas-guzzling fertiliser factories has helped smooth functioning of several power plants. The power plants are now getting an additional gas supply of around 200 million cubic feet daily (mmcfd) after closure of four fertiliser factories -- Ashuganj Fertiliser Company Ltd (AFCL), Jamuna Fertiliser Company Ltd (JFCL), Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL), and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (KAFCO). As a result, the overall electricity output of the country has increased to around 4,300 megawatts (mw) from 4,000 mw. Currently, only 227 mw of electricity generation is being affected due to gas crisis. Electricity generation from several newly-commissioned rental and quick rental power plants has also increased the overall electricity output. On the other hand, technical glitches in the power plants caused around 1,150 mw of load-shedding. Electricity generation in Ghorashal, Ashuganj, Khulna, Raujan, Tongi, Shahjibazar, Shikalbaha and Baghabari plants was disrupted, leading to frequent load-shedding and low voltage of electricity. Businesses have to bear the brunt of frequent load-shedding, as it has been seriously hampering the industrial output. For the domestic users, backup power systems, like instant power supply (IPS) and uninterrupted power system (UPS), have proved ineffective in providing electricity due to insufficient supply from the national grid. Thursday's load-shedding in the capital was 200 mw, followed by 87 mw in Chittagong, 74 mw in Khulna, 77 mw in Rajshahi, 49 mw in Comilla, 35 mw in Mymensingh, and 34 mw in Sylhet. The power ministry officials, however, said the electricity supply situation will improve after the irrigation season is over.
Power outages have become more frequent again, as the mercury is rising after several spells of summer rain. Besides, thousands of electricity-run irrigation pumps are now in operation to facilitate the ongoing Boro cultivation, augmenting the electricity demand. However, officials at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said the closure of four gas-guzzling fertiliser factories has helped smooth functioning of several power plants. The power plants are now getting an additional gas supply of around 200 million cubic feet daily (mmcfd) after closure of four fertiliser factories -- Ashuganj Fertiliser Company Ltd (AFCL), Jamuna Fertiliser Company Ltd (JFCL), Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL), and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (KAFCO). As a result, the overall electricity output of the country has increased to around 4,300 megawatts (mw) from 4,000 mw. Currently, only 227 mw of electricity generation is being affected due to gas crisis. Electricity generation from several newly-commissioned rental and quick rental power plants has also increased the overall electricity output. On the other hand, technical glitches in the power plants caused around 1,150 mw of load-shedding. Electricity generation in Ghorashal, Ashuganj, Khulna, Raujan, Tongi, Shahjibazar, Shikalbaha and Baghabari plants was disrupted, leading to frequent load-shedding and low voltage of electricity. Businesses have to bear the brunt of frequent load-shedding, as it has been seriously hampering the industrial output. For the domestic users, backup power systems, like instant power supply (IPS) and uninterrupted power system (UPS), have proved ineffective in providing electricity due to insufficient supply from the national grid. Thursday's load-shedding in the capital was 200 mw, followed by 87 mw in Chittagong, 74 mw in Khulna, 77 mw in Rajshahi, 49 mw in Comilla, 35 mw in Mymensingh, and 34 mw in Sylhet. The power ministry officials, however, said the electricity supply situation will improve after the irrigation season is over.