Dhaka: Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) today announced its expectation to add 1,950 MW to the national grid by the end of April, a move anticipated to alleviate the ongoing power rationing exacerbated by the current heatwave.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim stated that the electricity would be sourced from India’s Adani power, SS Power in Chattogram, and the RNPL joint venture based in Patuakhali within this month. All the units, he noted, are coal-fired, and the generation at three Bangladeshi plants, which had stalled, is set to resume as a coal-laden ship is expected to dock at Payra seaport on Sunday.
Adani had temporarily shut down one of its units supplying power to Bangladesh for maintenance purposes, but it is scheduled to become operational again tomorrow, explained the BPDB chief. BPDB officials further detailed that the national grid would begin receiving 750 MW from Adani on April 26, while SS Power and RNPL are set to restart supplying 600 MW each from April 28.
The RNPL is a joint venture between Bangladesh’s state-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and Chinese state-run NORINCO, and it will generate 600 MW from April 28. The disclosure by BPDB comes at a time when rising temperatures have compelled many residents to stay indoors, highlighting urban vulnerabilities amid strained energy systems. The meteorological office has reported a heatwave sweeping across the country.
The met office recorded the highest temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and 37 degrees Celsius in the capital, Dhaka, on Saturday. In the Jashore/Khulna region, temperatures ranged between 37 and 38 degrees today. Meanwhile, the Energy Division has initiated efforts to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and heavy fuel oil (HFO) alongside coal to meet the intensified electricity demands that have forced authorities to implement power rationing.
Power Division’s joint secretary, Umme Rehana, stated, “But we are trying to keep Dhaka city out of the load shedding (rationing system).” According to BPDB statistics, the highest demand was recorded at 16,900 MW on Saturday evening, while the highest production was 14,712 MW. The state-run entity plans to calculate the highest production later tonight. During the current summer, the projected electricity demand ranges from 17,000 to 18,500 MW.