Bangladesh is likely to experience power shortage of 1,200 MW next summer as the demand will surpass 5,000 MW against the production capacity of 3,800 MW.

Quoting a recent survey report of the Power Development Board ( PDB), its chairman ANH Akhtar Hossain made the prediction, local daily The Independent reported on Thursday.

According to the daily, the PDB conducted the survey to determine the actual supply and demand situation.

Last summer, the demand for electricity was 4,500 MW and the generation shortfall was between 800 MW and 1,100 MW as the production was mostly between 3,400 MW and 3,600 MW. At present, the demand stands at 3,700 MW.

To increase the production capacity, two new power plants, having a combined capacity of 300 MW, may come into operation before the next summer, the daily said.

The PDB survey also revealed that as per the existing transmission and distribution network capacity, the suppressed demand for electricity would be about 6,000 MW in the coming summer. "But this (suppressed) demand is not officially counted," PDB chairman was quoted as saying.

Expressing concern about the grim situation, State Minister for Power Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said all possible efforts would be made to bring down load-shedding to between 300 MW and 400 MW in the next summer.

The minister directed the officials of PDB and DESA (Dhaka Electric Supply Authority) to launch drive to snap electricity connections to the billboards in the city as well as the illegal connections to reduce the electricity load.

Source: Xinhua