Rise in power production shortfall deepens crisis
Monday, 25 June 2007
Doulot Akter Mala
The country's lone coal-fired power plant at northern Barapukuria is now generating one-third of its installed capacity when the power shortage hits 2000 megawatt (MW) a day.
The power plant having production capacity 250 MW has been generating only 79 MW power only.
The Barapukuria power plant has two units with each having 125 MW generation capacity. But they have never been in a position to produce power to their optimum levels.
The Power Development Board (PDB) has to shut one unit of the power plant by rotation for maintenance purpose, sources said.
Currently, unit-1 of the power plant is now producing 79 MW power while unit-2 has remained idle for maintenance since June 8.
The board has set June 30 to resume power production from the unit.
On June 4, unit-1 of the power plant resumed power production, which was turned off on May 17 for overhauling and maintenance purpose.
The authorities are now forced to run the power plant with imported coal due to technical problem in extraction of coal from the Barapukuria mine.
Energy experts claim that underground mining of coal extraction is not cost effective and also not an appropriate method resulting in the fall in mining.
While contacted, chief engineer of the power plant R.N Ghosh said: "The power generation of the unit-1 has declined due to technical problem. Its production will increase on Monday (today)."
He said coal shortage is affecting the power generation as authority has about 24,000 tonnes of coal in its stock.
Two units of the plant need 2500 tonnes of coal per day to produce power as per their installed capacity.
The PDB will float international tender for importing more coal from India by this week, he said.
Despite various initiatives of the government 18 power units are now shut down for maintenance or overhauling.
The frequent power outage is affecting the commercial and business activities, besides the public life.
The power generation was 3478 MW Sunday evening and 3183 MW in the morning the same day against the demand for around 5200 MW.
The country's lone coal-fired power plant at northern Barapukuria is now generating one-third of its installed capacity when the power shortage hits 2000 megawatt (MW) a day.
The power plant having production capacity 250 MW has been generating only 79 MW power only.
The Barapukuria power plant has two units with each having 125 MW generation capacity. But they have never been in a position to produce power to their optimum levels.
The Power Development Board (PDB) has to shut one unit of the power plant by rotation for maintenance purpose, sources said.
Currently, unit-1 of the power plant is now producing 79 MW power while unit-2 has remained idle for maintenance since June 8.
The board has set June 30 to resume power production from the unit.
On June 4, unit-1 of the power plant resumed power production, which was turned off on May 17 for overhauling and maintenance purpose.
The authorities are now forced to run the power plant with imported coal due to technical problem in extraction of coal from the Barapukuria mine.
Energy experts claim that underground mining of coal extraction is not cost effective and also not an appropriate method resulting in the fall in mining.
While contacted, chief engineer of the power plant R.N Ghosh said: "The power generation of the unit-1 has declined due to technical problem. Its production will increase on Monday (today)."
He said coal shortage is affecting the power generation as authority has about 24,000 tonnes of coal in its stock.
Two units of the plant need 2500 tonnes of coal per day to produce power as per their installed capacity.
The PDB will float international tender for importing more coal from India by this week, he said.
Despite various initiatives of the government 18 power units are now shut down for maintenance or overhauling.
The frequent power outage is affecting the commercial and business activities, besides the public life.
The power generation was 3478 MW Sunday evening and 3183 MW in the morning the same day against the demand for around 5200 MW.