Power supply to be ensured during irrigation season: Nasrul

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that electricity supply will be ensured on a priority basis during the irrigation season.

“Farmers will benefit if supervision activities are strengthened throughout the overall situation,” he said at an inter-ministerial meeting regarding uninterrupted power supply during the irrigation season at Bidyut Bhaban on Tuesday.

Nasrul Hamid said, “Don’t waste time in the name of maintenance. If there is a possibility of power shortage, concerned distribution companies should take the initiative to resolve it by alternative ways.”

He said power production is being increased in coordination with demand, adding, “If farmers follow peak and off-peak hours during irrigation season then better results will be yielded.”

The state minister directed authorities concerned to supply natural gas and fuel oil as required by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). He also instructed Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to purchase more furnace oil than there is demand.

As per the ministry, the irrigation season starts from February every year and it continues till 31st May. At this time, demand for electricity increases.

The highest electricity demand was 14,782 MW in the last irrigation season in April 2022, while the electricity demand for the current (2023) irrigation season will be 16,000 MW.

It said the total number of irrigation connections in the current season is 4,65,456, for which 24,00 MW electricity will be required.

The meeting discussed the supply of gas, furnace oil and diesel to increase power generation for the current irrigation season.

Power Division Secretary Md Habibur Rahman, BPDB Chairman Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) Chairman Md Selim Uddin, and Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarkar, among others, were present at the event.