Khulna region reels under severe load-shedding amid energy crunch

Severe load-shedding has gripped the Khulna region as six out of ten power plants remain shut due to fuel shortage, reducing electricity generation capacity.

The ongoing tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States have disrupted global energy markets, intensifying the fuel crisis and dealing a major blow to power generation in the region.

According to power sector sources, the Khulna region has around 10 large and small power plants with a combined generation capacity of nearly 3,000 megawatts.

However, due to the fuel shortage, six plants-Khulna 330MW, Faridpur 50MW, North West Power Company's Khulna 225MW, Madhumati 100MW and Rupsha 105MW facilities remain shut, bringing production down to less than half of the total capacity.

Md Alamgir Mahfuzur Rahman, chief engineer of Khulna 330MW power plant, said the facility cannot remain operational despite having capacity due to uncertainty in fuel supply.

"We are not receiving power demand from the NLDC. We have no fuel in hand. We are ready to run the plant subject to fuel availability," he said.

Although the coal-based Rampal Thermal Power Plant built with foreign assistance, continues to operate at full capacity it is insufficient to meet the region's overall demand.

During the summer, daily electricity demand in Khulna region stands at around 1,600MW.

Due to the supply shortfall, many areas are experiencing load-shedding for three to five hours daily.

Experts have linked the ongoing crisis to global energy instability, particularly due to tensions in the Persian Gulf region.

At a recent press conference, the Forum for Environment and Development (FED) said around 68–75% of Bangladesh's LNG imports and nearly 80 percent of crude oil imports depend on the Strait of Hormuz, making the country vulnerable to supply disruptions.

It warned that any disruption along this route could pose serious risks to national energy security in an import-dependent country like Bangladesh.

Cost analysis shows that electricity generation from furnace oil exceeds Tk18 per unit, while solar power costs nearly half at around Tk9 per unit.

In this context, experts have urged the government to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate investment in renewable energy.

Gouranga Nandi, a member of the Environment Protection Committee, said there is no alternative to renewable energy to overcome the current crisis.

"Without a rapid transition to sustainable and environment-friendly energy systems, the crisis will intensify in the future," he said.

Experts at the event estimate that more than 16,000MW of solar power could be generated by utilising rooftops of over 40 million households across the country.

They also noted that introducing solar-powered irrigation in agriculture could save thousands of crores of taka annually.

Among their recommendations are withdrawal of duties and VAT on solar equipment, subsidies for rooftop solar panels, quick approval of solar parks and decentralisation of renewable energy in the power sector.