Load-shedding ahead!
This summer the country's daily electricity demand will stand at an estimated 7000MW. On the other hand, production is likely to be only 5500MW. That means a daily deficit of 1500MW. And that spells heavy load-shedding throughout the hot summer days, much to the suffering of the people. The concerned ministries and departments are anxious.
Summer isn't here year and already load-shedding has begun all over the country, including the capital city of Dhaka. In some places it is as bad as seven to eight hours of load-shedding. And the irrigation season is around the corner when the farmers will need electricity to run their pumps, requiring about 1500MW daily.
The present daily demand for electricity is about 5200MW, while the generation is 4000MW on average daily. Experts say that it is possible to reduce the load-shedding with proper management. If that is done, then there is a possibility that load-shedding will be less than last year.
Gas is the main requirement for power production. Other sources are fuel oil, coal and renewable energy. The country is undergoing a gas crisis at present, as a result of which load-shedding has stepped up. And because of load-shedding, the Power Development Board (PDB) is not being able to provide new electricity connections to houses, mills and factories. Students' studies are being hampered, the people are suffering. Production is falling in factories. And concerned quarters foresee load-shedding worsening in the coming days.
The areas most affected by load-shedding in the capital are Mirpur, Gandarai, Narinda, Rampura, Dayaganj and Shonir Akhra. There is no electricity for stretches of 10 to 12 hours in these areas. Regular load-shedding is also carried out in Purana Paltan, Motijheel, Mugda, Bashabo, Agargaon and Uttara. Industrialists are the most concerned about this load-shedding. They say that for most of the working hours in the day, there is no electricity, and production slumps alarmingly.
Informed sources say, nine power plants have a production deficit of 1122MW due to the gas crisis. Some plants have shut down totally. Units 3, 4 and 5 of the Ghorasal Power Plant have a production capacity of 550MW, but produce only 460MW due to the gas crisis. The private power plant in Ghorasal, which has a capacity of 105MW, has shut down. The Tongi power plant with a production capacity of 105MW, produces only 50MW. The peaking power plant in Siddhirganj, with a capacity of 210MW, generates only 44MW. The capacity of the Meghnaghat Power Plant is 450MW, but it generates only 420MW. Haripur Power Limited produces only 230MW in place of 260MW. Meanwhile, the power plant at Raozan, with a capacity of 380MW, has long been shut down due to the gas crisis. There are also two other power plants, the 40MW and 150MW Shikalbaha plants. And one of the two units of the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant are closed due to technical reasons,
Some of the rental power plants are shut down for maintenance. The rental power plants consume excessive fuel due to old machinery.
Load-shedding is bound to worsen further in March-April when irrigation is in full swing.
According to sources in PDB, the present government has added 2894MW to the national grid in the past three years. In this period, deals were signed to set up 49 plants for production. This may be correct on paper, but on the ground things are different. The rental and quick rental plants generate much less than the stated capacity.
Last Thursday the countrywide demand for power was 5109MW, but production was only 3960MW. There was a load-shedding of 1149MW.
http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=7843
http://www.jjdin.com/?view=details&type=single&pub_no=53&cat_id=1&menu_id=13&news_type_id=1&index=0
On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 4:03 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
Weekly BUDHBAR report:
http://budhbar.com/?p=6571
On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 12:56 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/10/03/109403On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 1:15 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=203295
http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/09/21/106729
http://jugantor.us/enews/issue/2011/09/21/news0658.htm
Inflation to soar on fuel price hike
Analysts term the decision untimely
Local economists and analysts say that the government's untimely decision to increase fuel prices would accelerate the already high inflation and hurt the poor even more.
Their comments came days after the government increased prices of imported fuel and CNG, and reset the transport fares to shed some subsidy burden.
Former caretaker government adviser Akbar Ali Khan said the inflation would go up substantially due to the fuel price hike as transport costs affect all parts of the economy.
"Firstly, the prices of goods will go up due to rise in transport costs. Secondly, it will affect farmers if the government does not increase their subsidies. Thirdly, the lives of the rural people, who do not have access to electricity, will be more difficult due to rise in kerosene price.
"It will harm the poor and push the inflation rate up. This will create a bad situation as the price rise came at a time when inflation is at 11 percent," he said.
Akbar said three things are contributing to high inflation but the government is doing nothing about them. "Prices of goods and commodities are high in the international market. The taka is depreciating against the dollar. Besides, the government has increased its spending."
Under these circumstances, if another reason is added to inflation, it will accelerate. So, there is a question of timing too, he said, adding, "We have increased the fuel prices during the worst time. We are just adding more fuel to the fire."
Mirza AB Azizul Islam, another caretaker government adviser, said the inflation would obviously increase due to the rise in fuel prices.
"I fear a vicious cycle. If prices of goods and products increase, the garment workers may demand that their living cost has gone up, so their wages should go up. As a result, the production cost at factories will go up if wages are increased.
"The government has to try to avoid this vicious cycle," he said.
He said the government had no other alternative but to increase the prices of fuel. However, he thinks the timing has been very poor.
Mahabub Hossain, executive director of Brac, said the fare of diesel-run buses should not have been increased more than 3 percent and fares of CNG-run buses not more than 2 percent.
"The problem is that the fares could go up more, as some businessmen will exploit the opportunity to increase the fares and make more profit. Here, the government needs to monitor the implementation."
The agro-economist said the cost of irrigation in the boro season would also go up due to rise in fuel prices. Irrigation accounts for 20 percent of the total production cost. Of the amount, diesel cost is 10 percent. As a result, the profit of farmers will shrink.
He said increasing the prices of fuel was a political decision this time.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=203361
http://www.bd-pratidin.com/?view=details&type=gold&data=Hotel&pub_no=503&cat_id=1&menu_id=1&news_type_id=1&index=12
On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 11:11 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
Weekly Budhbar report:
http://budhbar.com/?p=6027
On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 1:31 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:Ittefaq report:
http://www.bangladeshnews24.com/ittefaq/newspaper/2011/08/07/news0183.php
On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:42 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
Daily Sangbad report:
http://www.thedailysangbad.com/?view=details&type=gold&data=Study&pub_no=796&menu_id=13&news_type_id=1&val=74620
On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 11:36 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
http://www.jjdin.com/?view=details&type=single&pub_no=176&cat_id=1&menu_id=1&news_type_id=1&index=0
On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 10:32 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
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http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-08-03/news/175129
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-08-03/news/175134
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-08-03/news/175128On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 10:25 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
Bidyut nai, pani nai....
http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/08/02/96714
http://www.dailykalerkantho.com/?view=details&type=gold&data=Islamic&pub_no=600&cat_id=1&menu_id=13&news_type_id=1&index=0
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