Joint power project
Two 1320MW coal fired power plants are to be set up in Chittagong and Khulna. That is indeed good news for the power starved people of Bangladesh.
Now that the agreement has been inked, there are hopefully no chances of it being negated by succeeding next elected government; even if it is not
AL. BNP has the tendency of cancelling whatever is in the pipeline proposed by AL; if they cannot get a slice of the pie; thanks to their all-powerful "Hawa Bhaban" pie eaters! However, the government should arrange the finance on top priority basis, and establish the Letter of
Credit before their term is over; otherwise anything may again happen! What is the tentative time schedule for the first unit; be it in Chittagong or Khulna. What about the arrangements for transmission line and switchgear to put the power on the grid? Is it also included in the order, or has this to be arranged separately? All these issues need to be sorted on top priority so the project progresses smoothly. Can we expect that at least the first power plant will be commissioned by 2016?
Regarding our power demand, one local English daily stated it to be 5500MW now. Assuming this to be real, which it could well be. Given a minimum 5% modest growth; the demand by 2016 will be 30% more, i.e: 7150MW!
If we really want to supply it on a (24X7) hour basis round the year; we must have at the least 25%more active but redundant generation capacity; to enable the plants to have regular needed maintenance and repair, without interrupting power supply. So by 2016, we must have at least (7150+1788) say 9000MW on tap at all the time. Will this be available on hand by 2016? If not, then this level of generation capacity must be installed timely; and just not the 2640MW now confirmed! Given a pragmatic figure of 3500MW, as the present generation capacity; and based on the above realistic projected power demand; we need further 4000MW generation capacity by 2016! Let us not ignore this important matter; otherwise we will have to live with load shedding forever; throughout our lives! The government must move ahead for further generation capacity, right now, to have uninterrupted power supply available in Bangladesh by 2016 at least!
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