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Ashuganj power plant to get gas supply from Habiganj field
The much expected gas supply from Habiganj Ou Field to Ashuganj Power Plant for generation of electricity to meet the national demand be gan early Friday through the north-south pipeline, reports BSS
Talking to BSS. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister said the woes of the people owing to load-shedding were expected to be greatly minimised from today with the establishment of connection between Ashuganj Power Plant and Habiganj Gas Field through the north-south pipeline for ■ending an additional 150 megawatt in Ihe national grid to meet country's electricity demand.
Terming It as a major success. he said thia had come as a great relief for the con Burners and will help boost production and accelerate the pace of development of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia
Detailing the salutary effects of the establishment of the connection between Ashuganj Power Plant and Habiganj Gas Field through the north-south pipeline from early Friday morning Dr Hossain said be cause of this connection the existing capacity of Habiganj Gas Field of 4.5 million cubic feet per hour (MMCFH) would increase to 65 MMCFH.
the field to supply this gas to Ashuganj Power Rant for elcc tricity generation.
As a result of this increase in capacity, the Energy Minister said the power generation at Ashuganj Plant wu increased by 150 megawatt per day from Friday
He said, wc had achieved two significant targets due to the establishment of this line connection. One. load shedding of electricity during the dry season Is now overcome due to thia additional 150 megawatt In the national grid Two. the capacity utilisation of the Habiganj Gaa Field Is raised to 1OO per cent from Friday morning
The Energy Minister said that now the government would earn an additional Taka 55 crore per annum as excise duty from gas and the power development board would be able to earn an additional rev enue income of about Taka 300 crore by selling the additional quantum of electricity
The Ashuganj Power Plant had the Installed capacity of 728 megawatt but could pro duce 450 to 500 megawatt due to the non availability of gas for generation of electricity. Dr Hossain said, adding now this Ashuganj Power Plant would be able to generate 650 megawatt steadily and could even be raised at the peak hours.
The additional 55 MMCFD will be produced form Habiganj Gas Field, which has the
capacity of 125 MMCFD Be cause of Its line capacity the Habiganj Gas Field could pro duce at best 80 MMCFD of gas till Thursday. But with this connection through the north south pipeline, the line capac Ity has now been increased and additional supply Is achieved from Friday. Dr Hossain told BSS correspondent pointing to the pubic commitment of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to restore 400 me^watt before the forthcoming dry season The Energy Minister who is also a Joint Secretary General of BNP. said so far we have restored 214 megawatt by replacing different units and from today with the additional supply of gas. the restored ca parity was being Increased to 350 megawatt Indicating that we were fulfilling our public commitment
Dr Hossain said the elcc tricity situation of the central, north and western zones has Improved remarkably from to day However, he said the sit uatlon of Chittagong zone would depend on the water level of Kapui lake.
The requirement of the Chittagong zone Is 250 megawatt and the production capacity of this zone Is 230 megawatt But now It is gener atlng only 50 megawatt due to the very low waler level of the Kaptal lake and central zone Is supplying 80 megawatt to the Chittagong zone Implying a shortage of electricity there