How govt prepares to meet Ramadan power demand as temperatures rise
Adviser warns action if ACs are kept below 25°C this summer
With Ramadan and peak summer approaching, the government is ramping up efforts to ensure an uninterrupted power supply by increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and implementing measures to regulate air conditioner usage as a way of managing rising electricity demand.
According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), power consumption is expected to surge by over 4,000 megawatts (MW) in Ramadan alone, pushing peak-time electricity demand to around 16,000MW from the current generation level of 11,808MW.
To meet this surge, the government must nearly match the country's record-high power generation, which peaked at 16,477MW on 30 April 2024.
To achieve this, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has sought Tk8,000 crore from the finance division to import primary fuels.
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Officials at BPDB and Petrobangla told The Business Standard that LNG and coal would be the two main sources to generate the additional electricity required for Ramadan.
Besides, to conserve electricity, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan yesterday announced that no organisations, institutions or individuals will be allowed to operate air conditioners at lower than 25 degrees in the upcoming summer.
He said non-compliance could result in the disconnection of electricity services and legal action against the offending entities or individuals.
Bangladesh has 143 power plants with a combined installed capacity of 27,790MW, though actual generation capacity stands at 26,906MW.
Among these, 58 gas-fired plants contribute 43% (11,452MW) of the total capacity, while seven coal-fired plants provide 20% (5,505MW).
Additional LNG, coal import
Md Shah Alam, general manager (LNG division) of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), said the government initially planned to purchase five LNG cargoes from the spot market but later decided to add one more.
Each LNG cargo contains approximately 2,900-3,000 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas.
The move aims to increase gas supply to power plants to up to 1,200mmcfd, a significant jump from the 825mmcfd currently being provided, according to Petrobangla data from 13 February.
Additionally, Petrobangla plans to supply 60-70mmcfd of gas from newly worked-over wells, further supplementing demand.
The BPDB is also ramping up coal imports to support the country's seven coal-fired power plants. BPDB Chairman Md Rezaul Karim told TBS that instructions have been issued to the authorities concerned for the import of 2.5-3 lakh tonnes of coal for consumption in March alone.
"We are providing funds to all coal-fired power plants. To ensure seamless power generation, we will import enough coal to meet demand in Ramadan," Karim said.
Managing consumption
The government is also focusing on demand-side management to curb unnecessary power consumption.
A major target is the use of air conditioners (ACs), which consume around 4,000MW of electricity nationwide. Officials believe that setting AC temperatures to 25-26 degrees Celsius could reduce consumption by at least 2,000MW.
Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, while announcing the air conditioner regulation, said the Power Division will formally notify various sectors about the decision.
The Commerce Adviser will inform private businesses, while the Religious Affairs Adviser will request mosque imams to adhere to the regulation. Additionally, the Cabinet Division Secretary will instruct all government offices, including the Secretariat, to enforce the policy.
The adviser further said the government is facing financial constraints, creating difficulties in paying foreign creditors for electricity and energy imports.
To address this, the government has sought assistance from private banks by providing foreign currency to help pay for LNG and coal. A committee led by the finance adviser is working on this issue.
He also pointed out that the upcoming summer season, with electricity demand expected to reach 17,000-18,000MW. "To meet this demand, the government has decided to supply 1,200mmcfd of LNG for power generation during Ramadan, and 1,100mmcfd thereafter."
