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Dhaka Friday,  Mar 29, 2024

Govt target smooth power supply to households

EB Repot

The power distributors will cut electricity to industrial units for ten and a half hours between 6:00PM and 4:30am across the country as a part of government’s electricity rationing efforts to ensure uninterrupted power supply to households during the month of Ramadan.
“We have already asked the steel re-rolling mills and users of 11kv heavy industrial users not to run their units between 6:00PM and 4:30am during Ramadan,” chief engineer Azharul Islam of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB)’s south zone distribution cell in Chittagong told on Tuesday.
He said the BPDB has also asked to the industrial units to operate their units at a limited scale from 10:00PM after the Tarabi prayer.
BPDB officials said electricity demand will shoot up to 8,500MW during the peak hours in Ramadan.
“Lack of capacity in power transmission and distribution might lead to power cuts during Ramadan,” some officials said.
The Power Division has already asked to the power distribution companies not to cut power for a longer period during Sahri, Iftar and Tarabih prayer in the holy month of fasting.
Besides, officials at the gas distribution companies said they have also a plan to divert limited scale of gas from industrial units to power plants if necessary.
“We have no problem in supplying gas to power stations during the month of Ramadan as production at two fertilizer factories-CUFL, KAFCO- have already been halted,” Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd managing director MAK Chowdhury told.
He said the company will divert additional gas from steel re-rolling mills to the power plants if necessary.
“We will take necessary steps immediately if BPDB complains about gas shortage,” Mr Chowdhury said.
A senior official of Petrobangla said there is no problem in supplying gas to power plant as gas production has increased.
“The maximum gas supply increased to 2700mmcfd this year from last year’s 2300mmcfd,” he said.
The authorities concerned, however, said there will be no problem in supplying uninterrupted electricity to shopping malls as electricity generation was adequate.
“Shopping malls will remain open till 10:00pm during the month of Ramadan to facilitate Eid shopping,” state minister for Power Nasrul Hamid said after a meeting with business leaders at Bidyut Bhaban.
Prime minister’s power and energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, additional power division secretary Ahmed Kaikawas, leaders of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association attended the meeting.
State Minister also ensured that there will be no power cut at the time of Iftar, Sehri and Tarabi prayers during the upcoming Ramadan.
Prime Minister’s energy adviser also called upon the traders and businessmen to conserve electricity during Ramadan.

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