Home ›› 07 Aug 2021 ›› Front
Once plagued by power shortages, the country is enjoying a sustained power generation surplus developing its capacity by leaps and bounds over the last decade.
The private sector is playing a key role in transforming once power-starved nation into a power surplus country making a 43 per cent share in power generation.
However, the sustained surplus is far from benefitting subscribers to a large extent as transmission and distribution network is yet to be developed.
Aided by a favourable policy support of the government along with incentives like corporate income tax exemption, exemption of customs duties, VAT and surcharges on the plant, equipment and spare parts,the private sector is thriving on its effort.
“We need more than $50 billion in investment in the power sector by 2030. I urge the private sector and foreign investors to inject fund in this field,” said Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Chairman Engineer Md Belayet Hossain. The rental and quick rental power plants were encouraged in power production to meet the need for electricity as the nation was plagued with frequent power cuts which led to severe damage to industrial output.
According to the BPDB, the country has now a total of over 2,0696 megawatt power generation capacity.
In reply to a question about the high cost of electricity, the BPDB chair said with the phasing out of rental and quick rental power plants, subsidy in private sector power plants will decrease substantially, so will the electricity price.
“Apart from that, some state-run mega power plants will come into operation within two to three years which will also help electricity price go down,” he added.
Currently, the private sector initiatives comprise Independent Power Producer, Small Independent Power Producer, Quick Rental Power Plant and Rental Power Plant having a combined generation capacity of over 8,778 megawatts from 78 power plants.
