Chittagong Bureau :
All gas-fired units of Power development Board (PDB) in Chittagong suspended generation since on Sunday due to acute shortage of gas.
According to PDB sources, one 150 MW peaking power station in Shikalbaha was on generation. This unit has suspended its generation at 8 am on Sunday last as the Karnaphuli gas distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) had disconnected supply of gas to the PDB plant. With the suspension of generation in 150 MW peaking power station in Shikalbaha, generation in all gas-fired units of PDB in Chittagong has been stopped creating a havoc situation in power supply in Chittagong.
Generation in Raozan unit-1 has suspended on August 13 last while in unit-2 on August 24 last due to suspension of gas supply.
With the decision of the government to supply gas to CUFL and KAFCO to produce fertilizer during the harvesting season, the supply of gas to power plants has been suspended.
As a result, Chittagong now depends on Kaptai Hydro Power Station that is generating 174 MW during peak hour.
PDB sources said, they have six gas-fired units in Chittagong with the generation capacity of 686 MW. These units are, three units at Shikalbaha including one 60 MW and two barge mounted having the capacity of 52 Megawatt, one 150 MW peaking power station in Shikalbaha and two units of 420-Megawatt capacity at Raojan.
These units need 162 mmcft of gas that include; the two units of Raozan power station need 90 mmcft and 60 MW Shikalbaha power station needs 22 mmcft and two barge mounted station at Shikalbaha need 20 mmcft and 150 MW peak-in power station in Shikalbaha needs 30 mmcft of gas.
Against the total demand of 162 mmcft of gas, the Karnaphuli Gas CFompany has stopped supply of gas to all power plants in Chittagong.
It may be mentioned that 60 MW Shikalbaha power stations, two barge mounted station at Shikalbaha remained inoperative since long due to shortage of gas.
Following the decline of generation of power the port city, Chittagong is now plagued by persisting load shedding.
According to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) sources, the supply of gas to Chittagong has declined alarmingly.
Sources said, KGDCL is now getting 215 mmcft from the national grid.
But the total demand of gas in Chittagong is more than 429 mmcfd of gas to feed its all consumers including two biggest fertilizer factories and power generating units of the region.
Sources further said, presently three peaking power plants at Hathazari, Juldah and Dohazari in Chittagong with the generation capacity of 100 MW each are now generating 300 MW during peak hour for five hours only.
The country’s only hydroelectric station at Kaptai is another source of power in Chittagong.
The five units can generate 240 MW power at a very cheaper rate in the country at 30 paisa per unit.
But the third unit is defective since its installation.
So, four units among five in Kaptai are generating 180 to 200 MW during peak hour.
So, the units in Chittagong both in private and PDB are generating only 500 MW against the total demand of 700 MW.
