Record 1,321MW of electricity generated at Rampal

• Significant progress in the power sector, integrated supply management

Bangladesh’s power sector is going through major progress. According to the latest data of the national power grid, the country produced a total of 15,179 megawatts of electricity yesterday. This mix came from coal, natural gas, liquid fuel, renewable energy and power imported from India. This joined up management shows that the power sector is moving ahead not only in the amount of power but also in the variety of its sources and regional cooperation.

The data shows that fossil fuel still plays the main role. Coal based power plants produce the most, at 5,228 megawatts, which is about 34.4 percent of total production. Natural gas is the second biggest source, giving 4,925 megawatts, or 32.4 percent of the supply. To meet the demand at peak hours, the country produces 2,614 megawatts using liquid fuel. This shows that coal and gas based plants are the main base of the country’s base load supply.

Regional power imports also play a key role in the country’s supply. A total of 1,657 megawatts from India and Nepal joined the national grid, which is about 10.9 percent of the total supply. Of this, the country imported 904 megawatts through the Bheramara HVDC link from India and 671 megawatts from the Adani power plant. As part of three country energy trade, 82 megawatts of power came in from Nepal. But the country imported no power through the Tripura border link in this period. These cross border links help make the country’s power supply more secure.

Bangladesh has also made good progress in renewable energy. Solar, hydro and wind power together produce a total of 755 megawatts. Solar plants gave the most, at 529 megawatts. The Kaptai Hydro Electric Plant gave 220 megawatts and wind power projects gave 6 megawatts. These eco friendly sources can grow further in the future.

The recent success of the Rampal power plant is also a big sign of progress in the power sector. The plant in Bagerhat produced a record 1,321 megawatts from its two units together for the first time. Mr. Anwarul Azim, General Manager of the Human Resources Department of the plant, said the first unit adds 656 megawatts and the second unit adds 665 megawatts to the national grid. Bangladesh and India started this joint project in 2010, and the two sides set up the plant by an agreement in 2012. This success shows that the power sector can move even further through international cooperation and good management.

Energy experts say the power sector is now moving toward a strong base through more production, a variety of sources and regional cooperation. Besides coal and gas based plants, renewable energy and imported power help keep the national grid stable. They say this steady progress will play a key role in the country’s economic growth and in raising people’s living standards.