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Editorial

Power generation capacity surpasses demand

Focus now should be on electricity transmission and distribution


Bangladeshpost
Published : 29 Jun 2020 08:41 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 04:00 PM

Government has taken a timely decision to close inefficient power plants with a total capacity 3000MW in phases by 2022 to reduce power generation cost with efforts to increase uses of renewable energy. 

Although over the last ten years country’s power generation capacity has increased by four-fold, the electricity transmission and distribution system still lags behind resulting in power disruption in different areas.

It is good to note that, in order to resolve the crisis, the government is now focusing on reinforcing electricity transmission and distribution system. 

Reportedly, in order to build a modern power transmission system, the government made some 70 percent of the power sector allocation for the distribution and transmission in 2020-21 fiscal with earmarking Tk 7,500 crore.


Focus should be given on improving power 

distribution and transmission system instead 

of increasing generation capacity


Over the last few years, country’s power generation capacity has reportedly increased more than four times, and its consumers thrice. More and more regions which were previously isolated have been connected to the electricity grid. 

The country’s power sector has recently achieved a milestone by providing electricity to Sandwip through submarine cable. Where the grid power is not reachable, the electricity is being provided through the solar mini grid. 

Power Division hopes every person of the country will be covered under the power facilities within the next couple of years.

Before 2009, reportedly a total of 27 power plants were constructed in the country whereas 101 plants were constructed in last ten years. 

The government also constructed more than three thousand circuit kilometres transmission line to ensure uninterrupted power supply to people. In 2009, the number of people having access to electricity was 47 percent, which now increased to 97 percent.

We are now self-sufficient in power generation and our generation capacity surpasses our demand. Now incidents like load shedding occurs occasionally due to problems in transmission and distribution system. 

Therefore, focus should given on improving the power distribution and transmission system instead of increasing    generation capacity to ensure uninterrupted power supply.