The government is working for raising the country’s power generation capacity to 60,000 megawatt (MW) by 2041, while the current capacity is 22,329 MW, reports BSS.
The country requires US$40 billion investment to increase electricity generation to 60,000MW by 2041, according to officials. “The power generation capacity has reached 22,329 MW and relentless efforts are underway to raise the capacity to 24,000 MW by 2021 under the honest and sincere leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” a power ministry official said.
He said in the last one decade, the government signed several deals for setting up 148 power plants having generation capacity of 29,648 MW. Meanwhile, 121 power plants were commissioned which added 15,573 MW power to the national grid. The generation capacity was only 3200 MW in 2009.
Talking to BSS, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the power generation capacity of the country has reached over 22,329 MW and the government is working relentlessly to raise the capacity to 24,000 MW by 2021. “We have a target to ensure uninterrupted power supply to every citizen at affordable prices by 2021. By 2030, the country’s power generation capacity will reach 40,000 MW and by 2041 it will go up further to 60,000MW,” he said.
The state minister said Bangladesh has become an ideal place for foreign investment. “The investment-situation here is now far better than any time in the history. So, various countries are now showing their interest to invest in the country’s power sector,” he added. A power division official said the government has set a target to generate 28,000 MW electricity and construct 23,000 circuit kilometre transmission lines across the country by 2023, which is now 11,650 circuit km.
He said a power division master-plan is under implementation as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is pledge-bound to make “Digital Bangladesh” by ensuring access to power for all citizens by 2021. Currently, the number of power subscribers is 3.48 crore, which was only 1.8 crore in 2009 and per capita electricity generation is now 510 kWh (Including captive), he said, adding that a total of 340 upazilas in the country have so far been brought under cent percent electricity coverage.
Alongside, installation of new power plants and maintenance of old ones to enhance their efficiency are in progress. Besides gas and coal-fired power plants, the first phase of installing nuclear power plants at Rooppur in Pabna with capacity to generate 2,400MW of electricity, is expected to be completed soon.
Meanwhile, the annual development programme (ADP) allocation for power and energy ministry is Taka 27,232 crore for 2019-2020 fiscals. “We wanted to illuminate each of the villages and for that, the government is setting up power plants and transmission lines and holding talks with neighbouring countries — India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar — to import electricity,” Nasrul said.
He said the government is planning to invest in Bhutan and Nepal whereas discussions are going on with Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal to import hydropower to meet the growing demand in the country.
