The country is experiencing huge load-shedding to the tune of over 2000MW on Saturday as gas shortage forced the authorities to shut down a number of gas-fired power plants.
According to official sources, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had to resort to about 2,051MW load-shedding at 12 noon when power generation was 10,749MW against a demand of 12,800MW.
But many officials unwilling to speak on the record believe that the load-shedding was even more than 2,000MW.
"This happened as we are not getting an adequate gas supply that forced many plants to go for shutdown," said a senior official of the BPDB.
Earlier, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division informed that gas supply from two floating terminals of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will remain suspended from 11pm on Friday due to the impact of the very severe cyclone Mocha.
As a result, gas supply to the Chattogram and Comilla regions will be disrupted on Saturday.
However, supply will resume soon after considering the situation.
As a consequence, the operation of gas-fired power stations will remain off or partially closed in Chattogram, Meghnaghat, Haripur and Siddhirganj areas.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid regretted the temporary inconvenience.
Dhaka Power Supply Company (DESCO) Managing Director Md Kausar Ameer Ali said the areas in Dhaka city under his jurisdiction experienced about 347MW at 11am on Saturday against a demand for 1,157MW.
The supply was 819MW, he added.
Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Managing Director Bikash Dewan informed that the areas under his company had to resort to 350-380MW in the day time.
The extent of load-shedding may be even higher after evening on Saturday, he told UNB.
