Staff Correspondent, Dhaka

Load-shedding has increased again across Bangladesh amid shortages of gas and coal for power generation, with districts outside the capital and rural areas bearing the brunt of the crisis. The country has been experiencing peak power shortfalls of more than 3,000 megawatts a day for several days.

According to data from the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Power Grid Bangladesh PLC, the highest load-shedding recorded by 8pm on Monday was 3,757 megawatts. The previous day, the peak shortfall stood at 3,671 megawatts.

Officials said reduced supplies of gas and coal needed for power generation are among the main causes of the current crisis. Oil-fired power plants are also not being operated at full capacity because of their high operating costs. As a result, a significant portion of the country’s available generation capacity remains unused.

According to the Power Division, Bangladesh has an installed power-generation capacity of around 29,000 megawatts. However, when load-shedding peaked on Monday, demand stood at 16,262 megawatts, while supply was around 12,500 megawatts. This means a substantial portion of the country’s generation capacity was not being utilised at the time.

Gas-fired power plants are also generating less than their potential. Currently, gas-fired plants are producing less than 4,000 megawatts. Officials said it could take several more days for gas supplies to improve.

Coal-fired plants have also reduced generation. One unit of the Payra power plant saw lower output due to maintenance work earlier this month, although efforts have since been made to increase generation. Generation at the Adani power plant in Jharkhand, India, has also declined because of disruptions in coal supplies.

Mohammad Zahurul Islam, member for generation at BPDB, said the country was facing shortages of both gas and coal.

“Running oil-fired plants throughout the day is expensive, so their generation is increased after evening to reduce load-shedding. When generation is reduced after midnight, load-shedding rises again,” he said.

Rural Areas Face Severe Power Cuts

The two electricity distribution companies in Dhaka, DESCO and DPDC, are receiving comparatively adequate supplies against demand. The situation is different in areas outside the capital, particularly those served by rural electricity cooperatives and other distribution companies, where supply shortages are causing frequent power cuts.

In Feni, electricity demand is around 140 megawatts, against an average shortfall of 30 megawatts. Officials of the district rural electricity office said the area was facing a power shortage of around 15 percent.

Residents of Purbadhala in Netrokona said they were receiving electricity for only a few hours a day. According to the district Rural Electricity Cooperative, demand stands at 158 megawatts, while only 59 megawatts is being supplied, forcing authorities to impose frequent load-shedding.

Several areas of Habiganj are also experiencing prolonged power cuts. Tea gardens have been particularly affected. Since uninterrupted electricity is essential for processing tea leaves, prolonged load-shedding is disrupting production and raising concerns over financial losses.

Residents of Keraniganj are also suffering from recurring power cuts. According to Dhaka Rural Electricity Cooperative-4, electricity demand in the area is around 240 megawatts, while the average daily shortfall is about 80 megawatts.

Officials in Domar, Nilphamari, said the area was receiving roughly half of its electricity demand. As a result, many consumers are getting less than 10 hours of electricity in a 24-hour period.

Officials said a quick improvement in the load-shedding situation is unlikely unless gas supplies improve, coal-fired power plants increase generation and fuel supplies to power plants return to normal.