With the country facing a dollar crisis, fuel shortage, and ongoing maintenance work, around 45% of Bangladesh’s power generation capacity remains unutilized, leading to an anticipated rise in power cuts during the upcoming month of June 2023. Currently, the power generation capacity stands at 23,370 MW, but recent data from the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) shows an average production of around 11,200 MW during the day and 13,300 MW during peak hours. Against a demand of 13,250 MW, the country’s production was only 11,700 MW.
The shortage of fuel has resulted in power cuts across various areas, with the largest power plant, Payra, scheduled to shut down due to a coal crisis. Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd (Desco) reported a shortage of 450 MW against a demand of 2,800 MW. Residents in different areas, including the capital city of Dhaka, are experiencing frequent power cuts lasting several hours. The power sector is receiving the highest gas supply ever, but it remains insufficient to meet the demand. Power cuts are expected to continue unless the fuel shortage is resolved.
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