Power situation expected to improve within next 15 days: State minister

The country's ongoing power crisis is expected to ease within the next 15 days, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit told parliament today (2 September).

"We are making our utmost efforts so that the people of Bangladesh do not have to endure the hardship they faced in August, at least not in September," he made the remarks while responding to a supplementary question from Chapainawabganj-3 lawmaker Md Nurul Islam during the question-answer session in parliament.

"The government is taking several measures to increase power generation, including bringing the Payra and Matarbari power plants back to full capacity and raising generation from furnace oil-based plants to as much as 4,000MW," the state minister added.

Amit also urged people to use electricity economically and sought lawmakers' cooperation in enforcing the government directive requiring shops and shopping malls to close by 8pm.

Nurul Islam had raised concerns over severe load shedding in Chapainawabganj and other parts of the country and asked when power supply would return to normal.

In response, Amit said areas under the Chapainawabganj Palli Bidyut Samity have an average demand of 64MW against a supply of 56MW, leaving an 8MW shortfall.

He, however, claimed there was no load shedding in areas under the Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco).

The lawmaker disputed the figures, saying people in Chapainawabganj and other parts of the country were experiencing load shedding for eight to 10 hours a day.

Referring to a 3,700MW power shortfall reported on 9 August, he asked what immediate steps the government was taking to address the crisis and when the situation would improve.

Amit acknowledged that people were suffering from shortages of electricity and gas, attributing the crisis to flawed energy policies over the years, the global energy crisis and recent disruptions in gas supply.

He said a technical problem at a floating LNG terminal on 21 July disrupted gas supplies for around 21 to 22 days. "Although the terminal returned to full capacity on 15 August, gas supply has yet to fully normalise."

"Currently, gas supply has returned to around 88% of normal levels," he said, adding that the government expects the supply situation to return to normal in early September.

Once gas supply improves, fuel availability for power plants will also increase, Amit said. "However, given the gap between power demand and supply, the government has decided to increase generation from costly furnace oil-based plants."

The state minister said furnace oil-based plants are currently generating around 3,200MW, with capacity to produce up to 4,000MW. "The government has recently allocated Tk6,000 crore for the sector, which will be used to clear outstanding payments to power plants and enable them to increase generation."

According to the state minister, one 616MW unit of the Payra power plant is currently offline due to a technical fault, while one unit at Matarbari is undergoing maintenance. The government is taking steps to bring both units back into operation quickly.

Regarding electricity imports from Adani Group, he said Bangladesh was supposed to receive 1,600MW under the agreement signed by the previous government. "At present, however, the country is receiving around 900MW during the day and 1,100MW in the evening."

The state minister informed that for a longer-term solution, the government is also promoting rooftop solar power projects, particularly ahead of the next summer and irrigation season.

Amit said the government plans to bring some rooftop solar projects into operation within six months and is considering allowing owners to sell surplus electricity to the government at Tk10.50 per unit for up to three years.

He also said the government is working to establish another floating LNG storage and regasification unit (FSRU). "If the agreement is finalised quickly, its benefits are expected to be available after 2028."