No alternative solution except load shedding now

The demand for electricity usually increases during summer season due to heatwave and Ramadan month. The country is experiencing random loadshedding now following the production shut in Rampal, Ashuganj and Raozan power plants.

Besides, Payra power plant is going to suspend operation from June 5 due to persisting coal shortage. As a result, there is no alternative solution of loadshedding right now.

Even, the state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the ongoing loadshedding situation would continue at least 20 to 25 days. Currently there is load-shedding of up to 1,700 megawatts against the total maximum demand of electricity in the country.

Earlier, Power Development Board (PDB) said that loadshedding is taking place due to heatwaves in the country and excessive demand for power during the holy month of Ramadan, production shut in Rampal 500 MW Thermal Power Station, Ashuganj 900 MW Power Station and Chittagong (Raozan) 210 MW Power Station and Hathazari 132/33 KV.

The authority was expecting that the situation would improve soon and power supply will be normal. But, the problem could not be solved due to fuel crisis.

As part of the election manifesto, the incumbent government had ensured 100% electricity. Countrymen were getting uninterrupted power supply. However, In 2022, due to the effect of the Russia-Ukraine war, the price of oil, gas and electricity production materials increased in the international market. In addition, problems raised in the transportation system. A crisis of coal is seen. Besides, the country faced dollar crisis.

As a result of these effects, like many countries in the world, Bangladesh is also facing trouble for electricity. The government prepared a routine to accomplish area-wise specific time-based load shedding across the country. However, everything was under control but the coal crisis changed the overall scenario.

Payra thermal power plant, the country's largest (1,320 megawatt) power plant, is shutting down due to this coal crisis. Production of one unit of the plant was stopped on May 25. The second unit, which has been running for a long time with stockpile coal, is going to be completely shut down on June 5. If the production of this power station of the country stops, load shedding may increase again.

The two units of the Payra power plant required around 11,000 to 12,000 tonnes of coal to run at full capacity. Bangladesh-China Power Company (PVT) Limited – the owner of the plant, has been importing coal from Indonesia since its inception.

However, due to the dollar crisis, Bangladesh-China Power Company (PVT) Limited owes $390 million to the suppliers as coal import bills till April.

As the bills have become overdue, the suppliers are refusing to supply more coal to the Bangladesh-China Power Company (PVT) Limited, which has ended up with a plant shutdown.