Bangladesh News

The country will need another 1,000 MW electricity in the upcoming irrigation season that starts from mid-January to operate an increased number of irrigation pumps, mainly for rice fields.

The number of irrigation pumps will increase by 11 percent across the country in order to support massive crop cultivation, especially paddy, as farmers will try to compensate for the colossal loss they suffered in two-time floods and cyclone Sidr in recent times.

Power and Energy Adviser Tapan Chowdhury gave the information at a press briefing at Bidyut Bhaban yesterday, saying there would be 300-650MW of load shedding to ensure adequate power supply to the irrigation pumps.

The country’s power generation will be between 3,600 and 3,800 megawatts in the coming dry season.

Tapan said a total of 2.5 lakh irrigation pumps would be connected to the mains across the country in the irrigation season. “This figure is 11 percent higher on the outgoing year.”

Power Secretary Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan and other senior officials of power and energy ministry were present at the press briefing.

The adviser said Power Division has made all-out efforts to ensure electricity supply to the irrigation pumps, adding that government-run irrigation projects and private projects which cover large areas would get top priority in getting electricity.

Tapan mentioned that power generation units have been overhauled for smooth supply of electricity during the season.

He said Barapukuria coal mine would operate at full capacity in two phases to feed adequate coal to the adjoining 250MW power plant. “We hope both the units of the plant will be operating in the coming season.”

The adviser, however, said despite all efforts, the power department will have to resort to load shedding although electricity demand would be low across the country in the current winter when the irrigation season starts.

He said during the operation of the irrigation pumps, there would be huge reactive power which might result in low-voltage in the city’s power-supply system but added that Desa and Desco will take necessary measures to address the problem.

The power adviser said some measures have already been taken in line with the suggestions made by the investigation committee in a bid to forestall disaster in the national grid in the future.