Works are underway to ensure all the people’s access to electricity by 2021 as 93 percent people of country have already brought under power coverage.
“Now we are working to ensure uninterrupted power supply with affordable prices across the country,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS on Tuesday (Mar 19).
He said the government has set a target to generate 28,000 megawatt (MW) electricity and construct 23,000 circuit kilometer transmission lines across the country by 2023.
Electricity is the key element for the country’s overall development. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, earlier, said her government would light up every house by boosting power generation.
“We have brought over 93 percent people under the electricity coverage and 102 power plants have been installed while the power generation capacity has stood at 21,169MW,” Nasrul said, adding that when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009, there were only 27 power plants with a total generation capacity of 4,942 MW.
According to ministry sources, the government is also implementing a master-plan to generate 24,000-MW electricity by 2021, while 40,000-MW by 2030 and 60,000-MW by 2041.
The number of power consumers now rose to 3.27 crore, which was only 1.80 crore in 2009 and per capita electricity generation is now 464 kWh. The Annual Development Programme (ADP) allocation to power and energy ministry is Taka 25,695 crore in fiscal year 2018-19.
Fifty five power plants are under construction with a total generation capacity of 13,654MW while another tender for 23 power plants with a generation capacity of 7,461 MW is underway, the sources added.
Eight mega coal-based power plant projects were undertaken in Payra, Rampal, Matarbari and Moheshkhali with 9,960 MW capacity.
Besides, with the government’s relentless efforts, the system losses came down to 11.87 percent from 14.33 percent in 2008-09, while transmission losses dropped to 2.75 percent from 3.06 percent and the system losses on transmission and distribution level were brought to 9.60 percent from 16.85 percent in 2008-09.