No impact on power saving on first day

The government’s order to close shopping malls and stores by 8pm every day to save electricity produced no result on Monday, the first day when the directive came into effect.

Bangladesh Power Development Board’s (BPDB) daily report said 12,439MW electricity was generated on Monday night, up from 12,133MW on the night of July 19. It forecast 13,900MW would be generated on Tuesday night.

BPDB Member (distribution) Dhurjati Prasad Sen told The Business Post the early closure of shopping malls produced no result considering power generation data. He said it would take more time.

Power, energy and mineral resources ministry officials said most traders had not complied with the order and kept their businesses open till late at night.

Bikash Dewan, managing director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company, told The Business Post closing malls early produced no result as power distribution was the same as before.

He said it would take more time to see the full effect of the directive.

The Prime Minister’s Office on June 16 ordered the authorities concerned to take necessary steps for closing shopping malls and stores by 8pm every day due to rising fuel prices globally.

The government said 26 per cent of the electricity would have to be generated by fuel due to gas shortages.

Gas-fired power costs Tk 4-5 per unit, but the price of electricity generated from diesel is about Tk 43 per unit and that from furnace oil is Tk 18 per unit.

BPDB says the average cost of generating electricity is around Tk 9.85 per unit due to rising fuel prices. As a result, its cost has increased by about Tk 16,000 crore. The Power Cell said closing shops and malls by 8pm would save about 1,500MW electricity.