The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syful Islam

Frequent power cut in the industrial units is decreasing the production level resulting huge losses, stakeholders say.

The overall electricity supply situation to the industrial sector worsened in the recent days especially after the takeover by the caretaker government.

Besides, the compulsory stoppage of electricity once a week declared by the government made the situation worst. The government made the stoppage of electricity to industrial units once a week on the pretext that the supply would be better on rest of the six days of the week.

Total monthly power failures of a factory during the year 2008 was as follows:

Year 2008Year 2008

No of times power failedNo of times power failed Total hours lostTotal hours lost

January January 76 76 37 37

FebruaryFebruary 76 76 36 36

MarchMarch 114 114 62 62

April April 155 155 115 115

MayMay 197 197 128 128

JuneJune 173 173 112 112

July July 174 174 120 120

AugustAugust 169 169 112 112

September September 207 207 146 146

Monthly average:Monthly average: 149 149 96 96

But contrarily the power supply started worsening since the once a week stoppage measure.

"The weekly closure of factories in no way helped smooth power supply, rather pushed all industrial units to a lower production," said Shahedul Islam (Helal), Chairman, Export Wing of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA).

According to a finding, one plastic factory in Siddhirganj, Narayangonj faced an average power failure of 149 times per month during the last 9 months. The factory was without electricity 96 hours per month. Besides, it was forced to keep closed once a week due to the government decision.

Factory owner says the situation has been continuously worsening as the number of power cut rose to 207 times in September from 76 times in January 2008. Shahedul Islam (Helal) said if the power cuts continue to increase in the proportion of the last 9 months the factory will have no option but to close its operation.

"These frequent power cuts causes huge production wastage resulting huge sum of idle wages payment by the industries increasing the operating cost, Helal said.

Helal urged the government to run a thorough investigation in the matter of frequent power cut demanding immediate withdrawal of the compulsory closure of factories once a week.

"The electricity department should be instructed to give a schedule of their daily power cuts in advance to the industries so that production planning can be done accordingly."

Terming plastic sector as power sensitive industry Helal said priority should be given to the plastic industry where each power failure causes huge material wastage.

On the proposed increase of power tariff he said it would be an additional nail to the coffin as frequent power cut has already badly damaged the industrial units. "Power tariff rise will increase the loss of the industries."

"The frequent and sudden power failure has been damaging many power sensitive machineries and equipment," Helal added.