By Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo
DHAHA, Feb 26, 2019 (BSS) – The government has set a target to generate
28,000 megawatt (MW) electricity and construct 23,000 circuit kilometre
transmission lines across the country by 2023 with a view to making
Bangladesh a middle-income country within the stipulated time.
“We are working restlessly to supply uninterrupted electricity to all
citizens aiming at turning Bangladesh into a middle-income country,” State
Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS here
today.
The power generation capacity has stood at 21,169MW bringing over 93
percent people under electricity coverage and102 power plants have been
installed, the minister said, adding that when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
took office in 2009, there were only 27 plants with a total generation
capacity of 4,942 MW.
“The ministry is working unremittingly for building “Sonar Bangla” as
dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina is pledge-bound to make “Digital Bangladesh” by
ensuring access to power for all citizens by 2021,” Nasrul said.
According to power ministry, the government has a plan to set up 23,000
circuit kilometre transmission lines across the country by 2023. The
government is also implementing a master-plan to generate 24,000-MW
electricity by 2021, 40,000-MW by 2030 and 60,000-MW by 2041.
The state minister said the construction work of two FSRU (Floating Storage
Re-gasification Unit) having 7.5 million tonnes Liquefied Natural Gas
capacity per year is going on alongside land based (LNG) terminals aimed at
ensuring energy security for the country.
Meanwhile, the government has also added LNG to the national grid and
initiative is underway to bring more LNG from different countries.
Currently, the number of power consumers rose to 3.75 crore, which was only
1.80 crore in 2009 and per capita electricity generation is now 464 kWh.
The annual development programme (ADP) allocation for power and energy
ministry is Taka 25,695 crore for 2018-19 fiscals, the ministry sources
added.
The ruling Awami League government in its election manifesto said they
would set up three separate energy hubs at Moheskhali, Matarbari and Payra
aimed at facilitating supply of fuel for under-construction coal and LNG-
based power plants across the country.
Sources at power ministry said currently, 55 power plants are under
construction with a capacity of 13,654MW while another 23 power plants with
7,461 MW of generation capacity are under tender process.
Eight mega coal-based power plant projects have been undertaken in Payra,
Rampal, Matarbari and Moheshkhali having 9,960 MW generation capacity.
It is expected that the first mega project at Payra in Patuakhali with
1,300 MW capacity will come into operation by next year, the sources said,
adding that about 50 percent work on the power has been done so far.
The construction of 1,200MW coal-fired power plant at Matarbari is
expected to go into operation in 2023. On the other hand, construction work
is going on to set up a 1,320 MW power plant at Rampal, Bagerhat.
Besides, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) with two units, with the total
capacity of 2,400 MW is under construction at Rooppur of Pabna.
The first phase of the RNPP is expected to go for power generation in 2022,
the sources added.