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Development in Power Sector

ASM Alamgir
For quickest possible implementation of plans, and in consideration of the availability of primary fuel, liquid fuel (diesel and furnace)-based rental power plants with the generation capacity of 1,600 MW have been set up in the country. Till date, 4,983 MW of power including 500 MW of rented power has been added to the national grid. When decision was taken to install rental power plants, the total deficit was 2,000 MW, and the deficit was basically due to the lack of generation capacity, which was not possible to overcome by repairing and modernizing the existing power stations and reducing the loss of transmission and distribution. The government then had two options before it— (I) either to set up quick rental power generating stations which can start to operate within 3 to 9 months or (2) to increase load shedding.
Under mid-term plans, which are to implement plans within 3 to 5 years, a good number of power generation projects are in the different phases of implementation. Of these, three 300—450 MW power plants at Bibiana, one 225 MW plant at Bhola, two 450 and one 225 MW power plants at Ashuganj, two 350—400 MW plants at Haripur and Siddhirganj, two 300—450 MW stations at Sirajganj and Meghnaghat, two 300—450 MW combined cycle gas turbine power stations at Ghorashal and Shahjibazar, one 274 MW coal-based plant at Barapukuria, one 300—600 MW imported coal-based power plant at each of Chittagong, Maoa, Barisal and Khulna and one 1,300 MW imported coal-based efficiently running stations at each of Chittagong and Khulna are some of the mid-term projects worth mentioning.
Among coal-based power generation plans is included the plan for setting-up local or imported coal-based ‘Base-load Power Stations’ by 2018. These plans will be implemented by the government or joint-venture initiatives. Implementation process of 8 power stations with a total generating capacity of3,849 MW of power by 2018, is in progress. Moreover, an agreement has been signed between India and Bangladesh for a joint-venture project to implement a 1,320 MW power plant at Rampal, Khulna. Implementation of project related works including land development has already started. In the government sector, with the help of JAICA, a feasibility study to implement 1,200 MW power station at Matarbari has just been concluded. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China and Malaysia is underway.
Under sub-regional co-operation plan, steps have been taken to import for future transmission of electricity from neighbouring countries. Import of 500 MW of electricity from India has already started. In addition to this, steps have also been taken to import electricity from the hydro-electric projects of Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, and north-eastern regions of India. Different programmes have been undertaken for co-operation in the power sector with the member states of SAARC and BIMSTEC.
In 2009, under the realities of prevailing gas crisis, the government took initiatives for taking up long-term (till 2030) project plans. ‘Power System Master Plan 2010 Study’ was approved by the government in 2011. In the study, it is seen that if the increased rate of GDP continues, the country will need to generate 24,000 MW of electricity in 2021, and 39,000 MW in 2030 to meet the need of consumers.
According to the long-term plan, 4,000 MW power will be generated from nuclear energy by 2030. As part of this plan, the government has already signed the Ruppur nuclear power station implementation project with Russia on 1 November 2011. To that end, 1,000 MW power will be generated by 2010, and another 1,000 MW by 2021. Russia will provide financial and technical assistance for those two projects. Russia will also be responsible for fiiel supply and waste management of the nuclear project.
Renewable energy policy has been formulated for jointly monitoring the renewable energy programme and laws have been framed to form a body called ‘Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA)'. Under the renewable energy policy, a target has been set to make renewable energy 5 percent of the total generated power by 2015 and increase it to 10 percent by 2020.
In the last 5 years, 34 lac (3.4 million) new connections, have been given, about 1,000 km transmission line and 39,000 km distribution line have been set up. For efficient and cost-effective use of power and energy, formulation of interim “Energy Efficiency Conservation Rules” and “Energy Efficiency Action Plan” are in the final stage.
For ensuring best possible services to the consumers, setting up cost-effective power transmission system, reducing arrears, increasing revenue, reducing technical and non-technical loss, Power Development Board has introduced pre-paid metering system. Presently, through different categorizations, 46,000 customers of Chittagong, Sylhet, Bogra, and Sirajganj are enjoying the pre-paid metering service under a pilot project. Moreover, for controlling and determining load, the present government has undertaken a pilot project and signed the ‘Turnky Agreement’ to start a pilot project for installing another 35,000 pre-paid smart meters, of which 10,000 will be distributed in the DESA area, another 10,000 in the BPDC area, and 5,000 each in the PBB, BPDB and OZOPADICO areas by 2014. Within the next two years, 24,000 pre-paid meters will be distributed in the southern region, Comilla and Rajshahi region.
As a result of achieving 10,000 MW installed capacity and increasing power generation capacity from 25 billion kwh in 2008 to 38 billion kwh in 2013, positive impact is noticed on agriculture, industry and other areas of social activities as a whole.
(The writer is the former Chairman. Bangladesh Power Development Board) Translation: M. Shahidullah