1.9 crore power connections were given in 5 yrs: Nasrul

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SANGSAD BHABAN, July 7, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said the government gave new power connections to about 1.9 crore subscribers in the last five years.

“After taking various initiatives to boost power generation, the government increased power generation four times to 21,629 megawatts now from only 4,942 megawatts in 2009,” he said while replying to a starred question placed by ruling party lawmaker Md Afzal Hossain (Kishoreganj) in the Jatiya Sangsad here.

Since 2009, Nasrul said, the present Awami League government has so far introduced 114 power plants with capacity of 13,536 megawatts.

Besides, 1,160 megawatts of power is being imported from India per day and added to the national grid, he added.

The state minister said about 93 percent people of the country have already been brought under the electricity coverage as the government is implementing short-, mid- and long-term plans to increase power generation.

Responding to another question of Momotaz Begom, MP, (Manikganj-2), Nasrul said construction of 53 power plants is underway aiming to generate a total of 15,743 megawatts from duel-fuel gas/LNG, imported coal and renewable energy sources.

A process continues to sign agreements with the authorities concerned to set up 14 new power plants with capacity of 3,709 megawatts, he said, adding these plants are expected to be introduced by 2021.

The state minister said the government has also a plan to set up 17 power plants to generate 19,500 megawatts of electricity.