Bangladesh 1,000-1,500mw load shedding likely in summer

The upcoming summer is likely to experience about 1,000-1,500 megawatt (MW) load shedding during the irrigation period

beginning from the first week of March, reports UNB.

According to Power Division officials, the irrigation creates an extra demand for 2,000 MW power during the summer.

Officials of the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) said this year power generation would be about 6,500 MW against

a demand for 7,500-8,000 MW during the peak hours of the summer.

At present, the power generation is between 4200 to 5480 MW against an evening peak demand of 5000 plus-minus in a

relatively cold weather. But this demand will go up with the advent of summer from the next month and gradually the demand

would go up with weather getting hot.

"But the electricity to run irrigation pumps for supply of water to paddy fields will create extra demand in the power

supply system. As a result, the overall demand for power supply will go up and continue until mid of May when irrigation

season will end," said Director Planning of PDB Mizanur Rahman.

"We expect, the extent of load shedding will remain within a reasonable limit of 1000 MW plus-minus during the irrigation

season. However, irrigation will not suffer as the farmers will get electricity on priority basis," he added.

According the PDB officials, mainly the urban people may have to experience one to two hours load shedding in a day.

Power Ministry's Additional Secretary Tapos Kumar Roy said this year, the power shortage will be lesser compared to

previous years, because, the government has taken a number of precautionary measures to ensure adequate power supply for

irrigation during the summer period.

This year, he said, maintenance works were done at a good number of power generation units during the winter season to get

maximum generation in the summer. These units were shut for maintenance and they will resume operation in the summer.

Secondly, the Additional Secretary said, the government kept suspended power purchase from different costly rental power

plants during the winter. The main objective was to buy maximum power from those rental plants during the summer.

"As a result, we hope, the coming summer will witness a lesser power outage compared to previous years," he added.

Last year, the summer season experienced about 2,000 MW of load shedding as the country generated about 5,500 MW against a

demand for 7,500 MW.

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