Underwater gas pipeline leakage forces 2 power units to suspend generation
Monday, 6 August 2007
M Azizur Rahman
Two power plants having about 200 megawatt (MW) generation capacity have gone out of operation due to disruption in gas supply. A major leak in the underwater gas pipeline in the river Karotoa at Sirajganj has been responsible for the disruption in northern districts of the country.
Bangladesh Navy has been called in to help resumption of gas supply to the country's northern districts, including Sirajganj, Bogra, Pabna and Ishwardi, a senior Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) official told the FE Sunday.
He said the Navy personnel led by a Lieutenant Commander are now trying to assess the damage caused to the underwater gas pipeline in the river Karotoya.
Electricity generation from two power plants - Baghabari 100 MW gas turbine power plant and Westmont's 90 MW power - has been suspended due to non-availability of natural gas.
"With the help from Navy we could detect a rupture in the gas pipeline laid 40 feet below the surface of the Karotoa river," managing director of the Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) Monjur Morshed said.
He said strong current due to flood might have caused the rupture in the underwater gas pipeline.
Installation of a bypass pipeline having a length of 30 feet -35 feet is needed to avoid the damaged portion of the pipeline is necessary to ensure resumption of gas supply in the northern districts.
It might, however, take one week's time as the land where the planned pipeline is set to be installed is now under flood waters.
If the flood prolongs the electricity supply situation might become worse, a senior Power Division official feared.
Currently, the country's total electricity generation ranges little over 3,500 MW against the demand of over 5,000 MW.
Apart from shutdown of the two power plants, power generation of 615 MW is now being hampered due to forced outage or emergency overhauling and 250 MW for rehabilitation.
The GTCL sources said gas supply to the Milk Vita, and the Pabna and Ishwardi towns remained suspended through the 20-inch GTCL pipeline due to the rupture in the pipeline.
Two power plants having about 200 megawatt (MW) generation capacity have gone out of operation due to disruption in gas supply. A major leak in the underwater gas pipeline in the river Karotoa at Sirajganj has been responsible for the disruption in northern districts of the country.
Bangladesh Navy has been called in to help resumption of gas supply to the country's northern districts, including Sirajganj, Bogra, Pabna and Ishwardi, a senior Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) official told the FE Sunday.
He said the Navy personnel led by a Lieutenant Commander are now trying to assess the damage caused to the underwater gas pipeline in the river Karotoya.
Electricity generation from two power plants - Baghabari 100 MW gas turbine power plant and Westmont's 90 MW power - has been suspended due to non-availability of natural gas.
"With the help from Navy we could detect a rupture in the gas pipeline laid 40 feet below the surface of the Karotoa river," managing director of the Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) Monjur Morshed said.
He said strong current due to flood might have caused the rupture in the underwater gas pipeline.
Installation of a bypass pipeline having a length of 30 feet -35 feet is needed to avoid the damaged portion of the pipeline is necessary to ensure resumption of gas supply in the northern districts.
It might, however, take one week's time as the land where the planned pipeline is set to be installed is now under flood waters.
If the flood prolongs the electricity supply situation might become worse, a senior Power Division official feared.
Currently, the country's total electricity generation ranges little over 3,500 MW against the demand of over 5,000 MW.
Apart from shutdown of the two power plants, power generation of 615 MW is now being hampered due to forced outage or emergency overhauling and 250 MW for rehabilitation.
The GTCL sources said gas supply to the Milk Vita, and the Pabna and Ishwardi towns remained suspended through the 20-inch GTCL pipeline due to the rupture in the pipeline.