Power outage starts creeping back

Shikalabaha Power Station

Power outage has started creeping into the lives of city dwellers from the very beginning of summer though the authorities hope to provide better service this year.
With the SSC examination beginning today thousands of examinees in the port city expect uninterrupted supply of power during the examination to continue their study properly.
Students said their preparation are badly affected due to the frequent outage that begin every evening, forcing them to study by candlelight amid scorching heat.
Chittagong has experienced around 114MW of loadshedding during the peak hours on March 22 evening against the demand of 520MW.
Md Mahabub, a resident of Pathantuli area, said such a loadshedding in the early summer indicates a severe power crisis in the coming months.
Jahanara Faruq, a housewife of Nasirabad, said they are already facing power cuts almost everyday and god knows what will happen in the coming summer.
Power Development Board (PDB) officials, however, said a better condition prevails in the power sector in the region at present compared to the previous years.
They said eight power-generating units, out of ten, are functioning at three power stations in Chittagong region now. Two units at Shikalbaha Barge-mounted Power Plant are now out of order.
There is no mechanical fault now in the running units, they said.
PDB Chittagong Chief Engineer Md Abul Kashem said 462MW electricity was generated in these units on March 22 against the demand of 520MW in Chittagong region.
Of the generated electricity, 56MW was supplied to the national grid keeping 406MW for Chittagong on that day, he added.
Sources said the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric Project at Kaptai, with all its five units functioning, is now generating 140MW to 150MW a day against the demand of 230MW due to below water level at Kaptai Lake.
PDB officials said the water level has declined due to less rainfall, causing poor generation of power.
Power generation at two units at Raozan Power plant each with 210MW capacity is not also up to the mark.
An official at PDB Chittagong office said it is possible to generate up to 360MW electricity at the two units if the supply of required gas is ensured.
But inadequate supply of gas kept both the units limited generating only to 260MW for the last couple of months.
Meanwhile, the lone power generation unit at Shikalbaha (Thermal) plant, which remained closed since January 26 due to shortage of gas supply, resumed its generation on March 19.
But the 60MW unit with highest possible capacity of 40MW to 42MW is now producing only 37MW due to inadequate supply of gas.
One of the two 28MW units at Shikalbaha Barge Mounted Plant became out of order four years ago while another was forced to suspend generation in January for non-availability of sufficient gas supply, sources at the PDB South Zone said.
Sources said Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (Kafco), which remained closed for months together, is likely resume soon to worsen gas situation.
Chief Engineer Abul Kashem said they hope to face less pressure this year as some more new plants will start power generation to add to the national grid.
He said they have, moreover, completed repair work in some old lines, transformers and substations in both the city and the region to keep them active in this peak season.