While power production has increased in the country, the government has not been able to ramp up its distribution mechanism. Due to distribution impediments, subscribers are facing load shedding and power outages.
Power Development Board, PDB, says: “the total power production capacity of the country is 20,133 megawatt and of this, captive power production (created by industries) is 2800 megawatts.”
The development picture of the power sector claims that in 2009, power production in the country was 4942 megawatt and, currently, it’s 17333 megawatt, with a rise in production by 12191 megawatt.
But the capacity of grid sub-stations has not seen any rise with Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, PGCB, claiming that grid sub-station capacity has risen to 36046 Megavolt Ampere, MVA from 15870 MVA.
However, PDB, says that the total claim of production never materializes.
On 19 September last, the highest production of power in the country was 11,623 megawatt, which was 3268 megawatt in 2009.
PGCB official says that by 2021, another ten thousand km of distribution line may be constructed across the country.
Meanwhile, the number of grid using subscribers has risen from 1 crore 8 lakh to 3 crore 11 lakh. For this, distribution line has been extended from 2 lakh 60 thousand to 4 lakh 57 thousand km.
The private sector in the country is also involved in power production though PGCB opposes the proposal to give large portion of the distribution work to the non-government sector.
“The PGCB will take up additional 12 distribution/supply projects in the future to their already existing 25; once that happens, power outage will fall,” said PGCB sources.