In a bid to forewarn about upcoming load-shedding this summer, Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Saturday said that the country's demand for power will reach as high as 18,000MW during this year's summer season. Urban and rural areas will equally share the sufferings. Moreover, the advisor also termed the present tariff structure in power sector as 'extortionist' in nature, and he is working to strike a balance in tariff and subsidy in the power sector.
The advisor's remarks came at a time when at least some 21 districts in the southern region of the country, including entire Barishal Division and parts of Khulna Division were plunged into darkness on Saturday evening following a major power grid collapse.It is a clear writing on the wall while an analysis of demand and supply data from the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) shows that over the past 10 days, electricity demand has increased by 3,000 to 4,000MW compared to Ramadan with a marked fall in supply.
Taking the advisor's forewarning in due consideration, we urge both the government and people to buckle up for impending power cuts. Though the advisor has told the increased demand will be met with additional export of coal and LNG, but the least we expect is to witness a price hike during this uncertain tumultuous times.
The point, however, we call on the government to efficiently formulate and submit a clear-cut energy policy coupled with a specific energy transition plan foradvancement of the country's future investment plan,both for public and private sectors.
It has often been alleged that a number of ourprivate power companies continues to extract huge sums because of the existing tariff structure, which actually isto some extent extortionist.That said - it also is the time to reform the country's faulty Integrated Power and Energy System Master Plan which continues to present defective demand projections.
Coming back to this summer, in order to maintain stable electricity supply, 150,000 tonnes of furnace oil, 15,000-16,000 tonnes of diesel and 40,000 tonnes of coal will be required daily. The power sector also requires 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day.
The headache, however, if fuel imports are disrupted due to financial constraints, load-shedding could well cross over 3,000MW.Power Division sources have also reported that clearing on-going and outstanding bills will require $1.15 billion (Tk14, 030Crore) by June, no wonder a big challenge for the government.
The million dollars questions, however, is the government's power division prepared or getting prepared to appropriately tackle the power crisis, or not? What is the progress in terms of, arranging the funds to clear all pending and needed payments?
We are worried.
