Access to quality and reliable electricity is no more a dream as the country’s 92 percent people are now getting uninterrupted supply of power, which was only 47 percent before 2009. After assuming power in 2009, the government formulated a roadmap for the power and energy sector declaring it as a thrust sector with an aim to reach power every house by 2021.
As part of the roadmap, 251 upazilas have already been brought under cent percent electricity coverage and 55 upazilas will soon be brought under power coverage and move is underway to bring the remaining 154 upazilas under electricity coverage by June 2019.
“Bangladesh will achieve its complete self-reliance on electricity very soon to bring every house under power supply facilities by 2021,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS recently.
He called upon all for sincerely using power to save the national resource of electricity, adding, “Currently 92 percent people are getting electricity, which was only 47 percent before 2009.”
According to power and energy ministry, the government has installed 99 power plants, which was only 27 before 2009 and the power generation capacity has stood at 20,430 MW and power connections have been increased to 3.15 crore.
Over two crore people have been brought under power coverage through 53 lakh solar home systems and presently, 55 power plants having 13,654 MW electricity generation capacity are under construction. Besides, tender is being processed for setting up 23 more power plants having 7,461 MW capacity. The government has also undertaken a plan to construct 19 power plants with 20,156 MW generation capacity. A consumer from Dhanmondi area Sajjad Hossain told BSS that he experienced severe load shedding before 2009 and now he is getting electricity round the clock.
Sajjad, however, said the present government made tremendous success in power sector because of the farsighted and capable leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The government is also importing 1,160 MW power from neighbouring country. Currently per capita electricity generation reached to 464 kWh. The record 11, 623MW electricity was generated on September 19 this year. Under the state minister’s supervision transmission line has been expanded to 11,293 circuit kilometer, distribution line is now 4.76 lakh and capacity of grid sub-station (MVA) reached to 36,912.
Apart from this, power sector is unbundled with generation, transmission and distribution. It has six generation, one transmission and five distribution entities.
Sustainable Renewable Development Authority (SREDA) is the nodal agency for supporting sustainable and renewable energy development. With the present government’s sincere and relentless efforts, natural gas supply increased to 27,00 million cubic feet in 2018 from 17,44 million cubic feet in 2009 and the number of gas fields rose to 27 from 23. The government conducted two dimensional survey of 16,696 line kilometer for searching oil and gas, while 5,236 square kilometer was completed three dimensional survey and 19,412 line kilometer geological survey. Currently, the government brought down LPG price to Taka 850-900 for 12 kg from Taka 14,00 and the number of LPG firms rose to 18 from five and.
The government has been constructing nuclear power plant, coal fired power plant, solar based power plant along other small scale power plants to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the country.
Moreover, the government had already installed Floating Storage and Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) based LNG terminal at Moheshkhali and another one is being installed at Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar district having 500 mmcfd capacity by April 2019.
Besides, the government initiative to construct land based LNG terminal in the country for smooth supplying of gas aimed at ensuring energy security in the country.
