Govt mulls underground power distribution network

EnergyTron Australia is going to conduct a feasibility study to move the overhead electricity distribution network in Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) areas in the capital to underground.

Hasnat Chowdhury, company secretary of DPDC, and Khandker Wahidul Islam, principal engineer of EnergyTron Australia, signed an agreement to this effect at the Bidyut Bhaban yesterday.

Under the deal, EnergyTron will work as the consultant for carrying out survey, feasibility study, underground distribution system design, bill of materials and cost estimate to transfer 132 kilovolt, 33KV, 11KV, 11/0.4KV and 0.4KV overhead distribution lines to underground in about 350 kilometre areas in Old Dhaka, Dhanmondi, Azimpur and Ramna.  The firm will complete the work in a year and will get Tk 21.55 crore in return.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, said the underground network would ensure uninterrupted power supply and reduce system loss.

Power connection will not get snapped during rains and storms and customers' sufferings will also lessen, he said. Power Division officials said immediately after the feasibility study, it will undertake a project to move the overhead distribution network to underground.

Richard Murphy, regional manager of EnergyTron Australia, Ahmad Kaikaus, secretary of the Power Division, Khaled Mahmood, chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board, and Md Shafiqullah, chairman of DPDC, were present.