Sharp drop in power supply hits people, industries
FE Report | Saturday, 16 August 2008
Sharp drop in power supply over the last three weeks has sent people reeling and industries limping.
The entire country has been facing frequent unannounced load-shedding of electricity for longer period of six to eight hours daily.
Power supply in the capital was 1200 megawatt (MW) Friday against the demand for 1,463 MW during peak hours, according to the Power Development Board (PDB).
However, the city requires around 1,800 MW of power excepting on Fridays, the weekend. Load-shedding rose to about as high as 500 MW with power supply declining to over 1,000 MW at times over the past three weeks.
The Power Development Board (PDB) generated 3300 MW of electricity Friday against the total demand for 4250 MW.
The power shortage has been further aggravated as a 150 MW unit of Ashuganj power project became inoperative Thursday. However, it is expected to resume operation Monday next, PDB officials said.
The areas including Mirpur, Adabar, Sutrapur, Uttara, Jatrabari and Motijheel have faced severe power outage in the last several weeks.
The erratic power supply also hampered operation of compressed natural gas (CNG) filing stations that failed to deliver CNG to the vehicles during load shedding.
As a result, the vehicles had to wait in queue for fuel for long hours on the road obstructing traffic movement.
An official said the PDB was forced to cut production of electricity due mainly to either shortage of gas supply or its low pressure.
Mechanical failure and maintenance work of many power plants have also been responsible for the setback in generation.
"The gas supply situation is so acute that three power units have to cease operation while 11 others are producing below their capacities," the official said.
The entire country has been facing frequent unannounced load-shedding of electricity for longer period of six to eight hours daily.
Power supply in the capital was 1200 megawatt (MW) Friday against the demand for 1,463 MW during peak hours, according to the Power Development Board (PDB).
However, the city requires around 1,800 MW of power excepting on Fridays, the weekend. Load-shedding rose to about as high as 500 MW with power supply declining to over 1,000 MW at times over the past three weeks.
The Power Development Board (PDB) generated 3300 MW of electricity Friday against the total demand for 4250 MW.
The power shortage has been further aggravated as a 150 MW unit of Ashuganj power project became inoperative Thursday. However, it is expected to resume operation Monday next, PDB officials said.
The areas including Mirpur, Adabar, Sutrapur, Uttara, Jatrabari and Motijheel have faced severe power outage in the last several weeks.
The erratic power supply also hampered operation of compressed natural gas (CNG) filing stations that failed to deliver CNG to the vehicles during load shedding.
As a result, the vehicles had to wait in queue for fuel for long hours on the road obstructing traffic movement.
An official said the PDB was forced to cut production of electricity due mainly to either shortage of gas supply or its low pressure.
Mechanical failure and maintenance work of many power plants have also been responsible for the setback in generation.
"The gas supply situation is so acute that three power units have to cease operation while 11 others are producing below their capacities," the official said.