Photo: BSS

By Al-Amin Shahriar

BHOLA, June 6, 2026 (BSS)-A 34.5-megawatt gas-fired power plant at Kheyaghat area of Bhola sadar, which has remained shut down due to the expiration of the contracts, mechanical failures and unpaid of gas bills, is set to resume its operation soon. 

Relevant authorities have confirmed that power generation will restart soon after the settlement of gas payment issues, official sources said here today.

According to sources at Venture Energy Resources Limited, the rental power plant, built at a cost of approximately Taka 1.5 billion, began commercial operations in July 2009. Initially designed to generate 34.5 MW of electricity, its capacity was later upgraded to 40 MW. For many years, the facility played a significant role in meeting the electricity demand of the district.

However, in 2024, the plant’s main gas turbine suffered a major breakdown. 
Although electricity generation continued on a limited scale through a backup unit, operations eventually ceased after the expiration of its agreement with West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) and the failure to settle the payment of outstanding gas bills.

The closure of the plant has increased pressure on the district’s power supply system. Frequent load-shedding and power outages have affected residents, businesses and students across several areas of Bhola. Authorities, however, say efforts are underway to resolve the situation quickly.

Engineer Md. Zakir Hossain Sabuj of Venture Energy Resources told BSS that the company operated the plant under a contract with WZPDCL. Gas was supplied under a separate agreement between WZPDCL and Sundarban Gas Distribution Company Limited, a subsidiary organization of Petrobangla.

He explained that the contract had expired and the WZPDCL owed Venture Energy Resources approximately Taka 200 million. As a result of these complications, the power plant has remained closed since June 2025. At the same time, Sundarban Gas Distribution Company disconnected the plant’s gas supply after WZPDCL failed to pay nearly Taka 200 million outstanding gas bills.

Local residents said that since the plant’s closure, electricity has had to be transmitted to Bhola town from a 250-MW power plant in Borhanuddin, located about 35 kilometers away. Storms, heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions have frequently disrupted the power supply. Residents also pointed to the inoperability of a local substation, which they say has further hindered the district’s ability to meet electricity demand.

Deputy General Manager of the company Md. Hafizur Rahman said discussions are going on with the relevant authorities regarding the reopening of the facility. He noted that Venture Energy Resources is working to clear government dues and that the plant could resume operations once the necessary decisions are made and gas supply is restored.

Executive Engineer Md. Yusuf of the WZPDCL’s Bhola region said that alternative sources are currently being used to supply electricity to the district. However, transmitting power from distant locations has placed additional strain on the distribution network. He added that efforts to resolve the issue are already in progress.

Member of Parliament from Bhola-1 constituency Andalib Rahman Partho said that work is continuing under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure reliable electricity reaches every household in the district.

He added that the government has a long-term plan to utilize Bhola’s gas resources for the construction of several hundred megawatts of additional power generation capacity in the district.

Bhola District Council Administrator Golam Nabi Alamgir told the local media that the government is actively working to expand electricity generation using the district’s natural gas resources and to develop Bhola into a coastal industrial hub.

Local residents warned that unless effective measures are taken soon, the district’s electricity crisis could worsen, increasing hardships for ordinary people. They expressed hope that timely government intervention would ensure uninterrupted power supply in gas-rich Bhola district.