Bangladesh has reached electricity generation capacity of 20,430 MW bringing more than 91 per cent people under electricity coverage, up from the earlier 47 per cent. Buoyed by this the Bangladesh Government has set a goal of generating of 24,000 MW power by 2021, 40,000 MW by 2030 and 60,000 MW by 2041.
“The present government’s vision is to supply uninterrupted electricity to all citizens by 2021 with a view to turning Bangladesh into a middle income country,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told Nuclear Asia. He said that the government has been implementing a master-plan to meet the electricity generation goals and to improve the livelihood of all sections of the people, particularly the poor and vulnerable communities.
“The number of power plants in the country now are 126 with a generation capacity of 20,430 MW (including captive), and it was only 27 with a mere 4,942 MW capacity when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took office in 2009,” Nasrul added.
Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain said the number of power consumers rose to 3.18 crore and per capital electricity generation is now 464 kWh and the annual development programme allocation is Taka 25,695 crore (USD 3.06 billion) in 2018-19.
According to the ministry sources, over two crore people have been brought under power coverage through 53 lakh solar home systems and presently 55 power plants with a cumulative electricity generation capacity of 13,654 MW are under construction. Besides, tender is out for setting up 23 more power plants with 7,461 MW capacity. The government has also undertaken a plant to construct 19 power plants with 20,156 MW generation capacity, it said.
The state minister said the government is working to increase gas production alongside importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the domestic energy demand. “We have added LNG to the national grid and initiative underway to bring more LNG from different countries,” he added. In the first phase, 500 mmcfd LNG was used in Chattogram region, while 500 mmcfd LNG would be supplied soon in the second phase.
He said the construction work for two Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) having 7.5 million tonnes LNG capacity per year is going on alongside land based LNG terminals aimed at ensuring energy security in the country.
