As part of the initiative, over 100 upazilas are now ready to come under cent percent power coverage through a function, expected to be attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The government is determined to supply electricity to every household and bring all the people under power coverage by 2021 at a reasonable price,” a Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry official told BSS here today.
He said currently, the country’s 90 percent people have access to electricity and this has been possible due to the bold and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to the BREB, 36 upazilas have already been brought under 100 percent electricity coverage which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while over 100 upazilas across the country are awaiting 100 percent power coverage.
Highlighting the steps taken by the present government to make the country self-reliant in power production, he said the BREB is providing around four lakh electricity connections per month.
Meanwhile, the state-run rural power provider BREB brought a total of 2.15 crore consumers under electricity connections.
Earlier, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the government has been working relentlessly with the aim to build a “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He said the BREB has targeted to bring 460 upazilas under 100 percent electricity coverage by 2018, as it has been providing services to the rural consumers for over 38 years. It also fixed a target to bring system loss down to 11 percent.
Nasrul Hamid said the government has increased the number of power plants, transmission lines, distribution lines and improved capacity of other sectors aimed at fostering the economic growth to become a middle income country by 2021.
The state minister said the electricity generation capacity reached 16,046 MW from 4,942 MW in 2009, adding, “Some 47 power plants, having capacity of 13,771 MW, are now under construction. In 2009, per capita electricity generation was 222 kWh, which has been enhanced to 433 kWh.”
The government installed additional 85 power plants and constructed 1.74 lakh kilometers distribution line since 2009, the state minister said.