No respite from load shedding even in off-peak winter
December 31, 2009
People in port city Chittagong are reeling under acute power crisis with around 250MW load shedding in the peak hours, even in this off-peak winter season.
The crisis persists as both the units of 420 MW Rauzan Thermal Power Plant halted power generation and three units of Shikalbaha Power Plant sees erratic power generation due to shortage of gas supply.
After restoration of gas supply and resumption of production at Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited, two 210 MW-capacity units of the Rauzan Thermal Power Plant shut down on October 19 and November 9 due to lack of gas supply.
Technical glitches and shortage of gas supply often forces the 116 MW-capacity Shikalbaha Power Plant on the other bank of River Karnaphuli to shut down, PDB sources said.
Now, among the 11 power plants of total 790 MW-capacity the four units of Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant generate on an average 192 MW, Shikalbaha 40MW and the rental Regent Power Limited 20MW in the peak hours of night while the national grid contributes 120MW to 130MW.
However, the contribution of national grid fluctuates depending on generation in Chittagong plants pushing the load-shedding up to around 250MW against the total demand of 600MW.
The load shedding causes immense sufferings to over 5,22,800 consumers of Chittagong PDB that covers vast areas of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.
“PDB requires around 115 mcf (million cubic feet) gas supply to keep the gas-fired Rauzan and Shikalbaha plants functional. But, we are now getting only 10mcf to 11mcf. The situation will worsen further in the upcoming Boro season in the next month,” Chittagong PDB Chief Engineer (Generation) Abu Taher said.
When contacted, Bakhrabad Gas Systems Limited Deputy General Manager Firoz Alam said due to decrease in gas supply from the off-shore gas field of Sangu they are not able to supply required gas at the power plants.
“Against the demand of total 315mcf we are now getting 210mcf from Sangu and Gas Transmission Company Limited and it forces us to decrease supply to the power plants,” he said.
Expressing deep concern over the power situation, MA Salam, senior vice president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said, “We are suffering huge financial losses as production is being hampered seriously at different industrial units.”
He urged for measures to ensure sufficient gas supply in Chittagong to enable the power plants to go into full production.
Source: thedailystar.net
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