DHAKA, Sept 1, 2018 (BSS) – State Minister for Power and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said the government’s goal to reach power to every house by 2021 is being fulfilled as 92 percent people were brought under electricity coverage.
“We hope every house will get power supply before the timeframe announced by the government,” he told a roundtable discussion titled ‘Power Roadmap: Target 2021’ as the chief guest.
The Daily Sun organised the discussion in collaboration with Summit Power Limited at East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL) conference room at Bashundhara residential area in the city.
Editor of the Daily Sun Enamul Hoque Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech and presided over it. Shiabur Rahman, executive editor moderated the event.
The state minister said the gap between peak hour and off peak hour is much more, adding, “During the peak hour abroad (6pm to 9pm) electricity is being used less, as they close shopping malls after evening.
“But in our country the electricity demand is increased around 10,000 MW after evening and it is tough to ensure smooth management between supply and demand,” he said.
Unplanned urbanisation is the main setback to provide uninterrupted power supply in the country and for overcoming all challenges, the government has already brought 92 percent of the total population under electricity coverage, he added.
Nasrul Hamid said the global energy market scenario is changing fast so the government takes decisions cautiously, adding, “To this end, the government is importing LNG to ensure energy security in the country.”
Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus attended the roundtable as the guest of honour, while Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammed Hossain presented the keynote paper.
Among others, Petrobangla Chairman Abul Mansur M Faizullah, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Chairman Khaled Mahmood, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) Chairman Moin Uddin, Summit Power Managing Director Abdul Wadud, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd (DPDC) Managing Director Bikash Dewan, BUET professors M Tamim and Ijaz Hossain, and Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) Managing Director M Qamruzzaman also spoke.
Kaikaus said the government has achieved a remarkable success in power sector. Critics opined that Quick Rental power will lead the country to bankruptcy but nothing like that has happened, he added.
The Power Cell DG Mohammad Hossain said the government is now working on the new target of 2041, as vision 2021 will materialized very soon, adding, “We are now working for 60,000 MW power though 48,000 MW would be needed in 2041.”
Chairman of BREB Moin Uddin said, “The BREB is in charge of distribution of electricity in 90 percent area and we will be able to supply electricity 100 percent by 2019.”
Energy expert Professor M Tamim said the government has to go for land based LNG terminal due to disruption of LNG supply through floating LNG terminal.
Professor Ijaz Hossain said the government successfully installed power plants and increased generation capacity, but load-shedding is visible.