Bangladesh News

The persisting bleak power situation is expected to improve slightly from the end of this month with the commissioning of a “spur-line” to boost gas supplies from Jalalabad gas field.

Due to lack of gas supplies, different gas-fired power plants in the country cannot generate around 660 megawatt (MW) power. And for inadequate gas pipeline and production, the authorities are unable to supply 150 to 165 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas to power plants.

But commissioning of the new spur-line will add 60 to 70 mmcfd gas, which can help Power Development Board (PDB) to generate around another 300 MW power.

This means, against an official demand for 4,800 MW power, the PDB would be able to supply around 4,000-4,100 MW bringing the level of load shedding down to 700-800 MW from 1,000-1,200 MW at present.

The PDB yesterday generated 3,680 MW power. During the caretaker government’s tenure, it could supply up to 4,200 MW for a short time when gas supplies to power plants could be maximised. Unofficial estimates projected the demand at more than 5,200 MW.

As the demand for power began soaring up from early this month, frequent load shedding every day has become ubiquitous across the country. This situation is not only making city life miserable but also harming economic activities, and threatening vital irrigation for boro cultivation.

The government however gave priority to power for irrigation and took steps to ensure its supply in the rural areas specially at night — between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am.

As a temporary and almost insignificant measure to increase gas supplies to power plants, the government also shut down for two weeks the gas-fired Palash Urea Fertiliser Factory and Ghorashal Fertiliser Factory. But this proved futile as the two factories used only 30 mmcfd gas. Half of this gas was diverted to power plants and half to industrial units.

The factories will operate again from the end of this month when the spur- line will be complete.

Initiated as part of a move by Petrobangla and Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) to overcome problems arising out of various bottlenecks in their gas pipeline system– the 750-metre long and 12-inch diameter pipeline– is now ready for commissioning. It will facilitate an approximate 50 percent increase in gas production from Jalalabad field by the end of this year.

Jalalabad field now produces around 150 mmcfd gas.

To commission this spur-line, Operator of Jalalabad field Chevron will have to stop gas production from Jalalabad for three days from Thursday. The process of commissioning will involve shifting the measuring meters currently at Kailastila to Jalalabad.

During these three days of shutdown, gas production from Chevron-operated Bibiyana and Moulvibazar fields will be increased to minimise gas supply shortfall.

“The installation schedule has been fixed to coincide with a national holiday preceding a two-day weekend so that industrial and commercial activities are not affected,” said an official.