The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The country experienced about 1000 MW of load shedding yesterday, making the SSC examinees the worst sufferers.

The examinees, particularly of Gulshan and its adjoining areas, suffered most as a major power disruption left them without power for over seven hours on a day they started their exams.

According to official sources, a flashover at a 33,000 volt (33kV) grid line at Gulshan substation led to a power cut from 1:30 pm. And the power did not restore till filing of the report at 8:30pm.

The incident also left three DESCO men, including a German expert, injured. The two others are DESCO staff Belal, 29, and Sumon, 25.

They suffered burn injuries as a gas insulated supply (GIS) line sparked when they were working on it, a top DESCO official told UNB.

The PDB officials said the country generated 3,673 MW of power against an officially recognised demand for 4,400 MW. However, unofficially, the demand is believed to be more than 4,700 MW.

DESA officials said they received about 1,250 MW electricity against a demand for about 1,800 MW which means Dhaka city alone had to experience a load shedding of about 650 MW.

Many areas of the city faced 3 to 5 hours of power cut in several spells.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power and Energy Ministry Thursday held a meeting of the top officials of the three ministries to find out an easy means to minimise the nagging power crisis.

The power secretary, the energy secretary, the industries secretary and the chairmen of PDB, Petrobangla and BCIC were present at the meeting.

About the outcome of the meeting, Power Secretary Dr Fouzul Kabir Khan told UNB that they have decided to shift the gas supply priority from fertiliser factories to power stations in order to boost power production.

He said the Power Division has sought 100 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas from the Energy Division to meet its demand for operation of power plants.

At present, the PDB has to keep a number of power plants out of production for short supply of gas.

The Power Secretary said the PDB, Petrobangla and BCIC would jointly work out a technical feasibility plan for enhanced gas supply to the power plants.