The country is facing a severe electricity crisis as multiple gas-fired power plants have fully or partially shut down due to gas shortages, while power generation at major coal-based plants has decreased due to maintenance work, significantly reducing electricity production amid higher power demand caused by intense heat and lack of rain.
Widespread load shedding
This has led to widespread load-shedding across the country, with various regions reporting power outages for six to eight hours daily over the past week. Among these regions, the northern districts are experiencing the most power cuts. Frequent power failure is disrupting industrial production and preventing the charging of battery-operated vehicles, further exacerbating public suffering.
According to the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB), the highest load shedding on Wednesday reached 2,200MW, while the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) website reported only 800MW. On June 25, load shedding exceeded 1,300MW-2,000MW throughout the day and night.
Major power plants shut down
BPDB officials report that units of the country's four major coal-based power plants are currently offline or partially operational. The first unit of the Adani Group's power plant in Jharkhand was taken offline for maintenance during the Eid holidays due to reduced demand and is expected to resume production on July 5. The second unit, with the same capacity, has been producing only 370MW-375MW since Tuesday due to technical faults.
Additionally, one of the two 622MW units of the Payra Thermal Power Plant in Patuakhali, the country's biggest coal-fired electricity producer, underwent maintenance starting on Tuesday and is expected to resume production on July 2. Maintenance is also underway on a unit of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, reducing its output to 800MW-810MW from its 1,234MW capacity.
The third-largest power plant, SS Power Plant in Chattogram, with a capacity of 1,224MW, has a unit offline for maintenance, producing 600MW-612MW on average. The 525MW Barapukuria (BPDB) Coal Power Plant in Dinajpur is generating less than 150MW.
Gas crisis and LNG supply
BPDB's daily power generation report indicates that 23 power plants are fully or partially shut down due to the gas crisis. The current daily gas demand in the power sector is around 2,320 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), but only 1,000MMCFD was supplied on June 24, decreasing to 970MMCFD on June 25.
The supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which makes up a significant portion of the gas supply, was affected after Summit Group's floating LNG terminal was sent to Singapore for maintenance following damage from cyclone Remal in May. This further reduced gas supply and impacted power production.
Experts weigh in
BPDB reports that the country's power generation capacity is approximately 26,000MW, but currently less than 14,000MW is being produced while demand is around 16,000MW.
Experts say the actual amount of load shedding is much higher due to incorrect demand calculations. The PGCB recorded a maximum load shedding of 2,285MW on Tuesday, while Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) reported 2,469MW of load shedding on the same day.
BPDB member (generation) Khandaker Mokammel Hossain said reduced gas supply has decreased production and supply from two major coal-based power plants has also dropped. “Despite maximum efforts from oil-powered plants, some load-shedding is inevitable,” he said.
Dhaka and rural areas affected differently
Dhaka's two electricity distribution companies, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) claimed there were no supply shortages in the capital.
Outside Dhaka, BPDB, West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL), Northern Electricity Supply PLC (NESCO), and BREB manage electricity supply, with BREB serving most rural areas.
BREB customers, who make up 55 per cent of total electricity consumers, are primarily affected by load shedding.
Impact on rural areas
A BREB source revealed that they received 78.5 per cent of the electricity demand on Monday, 74.5 per cent on Tuesday, and even less, 70 per cent on Wednesday, with the remaining deficit covered by load shedding. In some areas, the shortfall reached 30-35 per cent, resulting in prolonged power outages in rural areas.
Reports from Dinajpur district indicate that the area has been experiencing extreme heat for the past four days, with daytime temperatures fluctuating between 33.5 and 35.8 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 70 and 88 per cent.
Under these conditions, continuous load shedding persists, with power outages lasting five to eight hours daily, and each outage lasting between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours.
