Home ›› 20 Jul 2022 ›› Editorial
Load-shedding has always been seen as a problem in this country. However, currently, the government has decided to use load-shedding as a ‘solution’ to the ongoing disruption in power generation due to the severe fuel crisis facing the country. From yesterday the government enforced a nationwide daily one-hour of systemic area-based power cuts. The power cuts will continue for a week. After that, the authorities will take a decision regarding increasing or decreasing load-shedding. Much to the relief of the common people the authorities have announced the time of day when power supply will be suspended.
A report published in The Business Post on Tuesday quoted the State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid as saying “Primarily, we will do this on an experimental basis. If needed, then after observing the situation for a week, we will revisit the plan and decide whether load-shedding would increase or decrease.” Their schedule of area-based load-shedding will be available on the DPDC website. On a related note the government is prioritising uninterrupted supply to industrial and commercial consumers.
Energy experts have been saying in recent times that a proper and planned load management of the current energy supply is the best way to deal with the ongoing gas and power supply cuts. These days, power disruptions are not rare in different countries around the world who have all been hit by the gas crisis following the Russia-Ukraine war. Most of these countries have turned to proper load management. Experts here say that proper load management could lessen the people’s suffering even with the diminishing production of gas and electricity.
In addition to planned load-shedding, the authorities have taken up a number of steps to deal with the fuel crisis. Diesel-fired power plants will remain closed until further notice. Filling stations will stay closed for one day every week to save fuel. However the timing regarding the closure of the stations is yet to be announced. The state minister hopes that conservative use of fuel by shutting down these power plants and keeping the pumps closed for a day will reduce fuel import by as much as 20 per cent. Markets and shopping malls will not be allowed to remain open after 8pm to save electricity. All religious institutions like mosques, temples and churches have been urged to go for power-saving measures, including turning on the air conditioners only during prayers. According to the report the government is seriously considering reducing office hours and introducing work from home (WFH) and virtual meetings to save electricity. Earlier the government decided for the time being to not buy LNG from the international spot market where the price has gone up significantly in recent months.
The government claims that it had to follow this path because of the energy crisis induced by the Ukraine-Russia war. However there are differing voices. Professor Badrul Imam, a geology teacher at Dhaka University, told The Business Post that over-dependency on imports and long-time negligence of local resources were the major causes behind this energy crisis.
Ironically the load-shedding decision comes on the heels of the government’s grandoise declaration of providing electricity to 100 per cent of the people. Media reports suggest that there has always been a shortage and the crisis has intensified in recent times.
Experts and laypersons alike believe that one hour of daily load shedding is manageable for the consumers. However, if the authorities decide to increase the duration of power cuts it would result in sufferings for countless people. Time was when load shedding for hours on end was the rule. However in the recent years load shedding has become an anachronism. For a generation of children and early-teens this is their first exposure to regular power cuts. Load shedding does not befit a fast developing country like Bangladesh. However desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes the authorities are forced to take unpopular decisions. The power cut decision is hopefully a temporary coping mechanism.
Wherever electricity can be saved, measures must be taken. There are electric billboards on various roads and highways in the capital and plans can be made to close them on time. Effective initiatives should be taken to stop illegal connections as well as to reduce system losses that have been plaguing the sector for years. Emphasis should be laid on increasing domestic gas production.
