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As temperatures soared to a sweltering 43 degrees Celsius, Bangladesh faced unprecedented power shortages on Monday, with load shedding peaking at around 3,200MW marking the highest record of power cuts in recent times.
https://businesspostbd.com/power-energy/record-3200mw-load-shedding-as-mercury-hits-43c
The Power Division has directed all commercial establishments, including shopping malls, to be shut by 8pm and asked that AC temperatures be kept at 25°C to ensure uninterrupted power during the ongoing heatwave.
In a circular issued on Monday, it also demanded that easy-bikes and motorized rickshaws not be charged illegally, among other measures.
According to the circular, despite the unprecedented achievements in the power sector in the last 15 years, the electricity demand has increased at an "abnormal rate" due to the ongoing crisis.
The Power Division also asked shops, shopping malls, petrol pumps and CNG stations to avoid using extra lights to lower electricity costs.
It urged all to be energy-efficient.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/amp/bangladesh/power-energy/345230/power-division-issues-guidelines-to-ensure
Imports bounce back, but you would think that with the dollar crisis this surely is not sustainable!
“Coal import has also increased by 37 per cent. Bangladesh imported 3.87 million tonnes, up from last year’s 2.81 million”
https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/business/7shb6ikvbv
Obviously the situation has been made worse due to the heatwave, but It looks like they are starting to run into a coal shortage as well as gas now, so I’m guessing unless they start paying their bills the situation will now run into the same situation throughout the summer as last year 🤔
"Various districts including Dinajpur, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Gaibandha are in a dire situation as power outages last for 10 to 12 hours daily. The impact on daily life is profound, with residents facing challenges in accessing basic amenities and enduring adverse health effects due to the lack of electricity."
"Alamin Kabir from Dinajpur said, "We are now getting electricity for an average of 12 hours a day. There's no guarantee when power will come back after load-shedding starts.”
"However, the nation is suffering due to the insufficient power supply. Power Division officials attributed this shortfall to a scarcity of gas and coal, which is hampering the ability of large power stations to generate electricity to meet the demand."
"Similarly, the report showed that the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant in Dinajpur is facing challenges as both of its two units of 125MW capacity are currently inactive."
"Furthermore, due to the ongoing dollar crisis, coal imports are also being disrupted, said BPDB Member (Generation) Khandakar Mokammel Hossain."
https://businesspostbd.com/power-energy/power-outage-hits-hard-amid-economic-turmoil
“The extent of load shedding crossed 1,860 MW on Sunday, a new high in power shortage in at least a decade, on the heels of a new record in power generation.”
“Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla's official data shows that the country's gas production was 3,105 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for about 4000 MMCFD.
It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.”
https://businesspostbd.com/power-energy/load-shedding-hits-staggering-1860mw
“The REB was able to supply 6,500 MW of power against the demand of 9,312 MW.
"Power outages in the rural areas are so frequent that if any interruption takes place, consumers have to wait several hours to get electricity both day and night," reports UNB, citing an official of the REB.
"The extent of load-shedding might even be more than 2000 MW if local outages are taken into account," the official added, requesting anonymity to speak as the issue is considered sensitive.
According to official sources, the maximum burden of load-shedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in the capital Dhaka, and other large cities.”
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/energy/load-shedding-hits-1868-mw-heatwave-shows-no-sign-relenting-838501?amp
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told The Daily Messenger “When we understood that gas is depleting fast, we undertook the coal-based power generation projects. So, during the gas crisis, these projects are contributing as much as we need.”
“Moreover, more coal-based capacity is waiting to generate power. Still, we cannot utilise the Matarbari plant’s full capacity. Some other coal-based plants are in the pipeline that will serve more. Besides, coal is currently cheaper than LNG,” he added.
https://www.dailymessenger.net/business/news/18147
Awami League's manifesto - Power….
Some on this board have mentioned that they did not know that using own resources, (specifically coal), was in the AL’s Election Manifesto, below is some text taken from articles that reported the manifesto, I hope this helps to clear this point up.
Awami League, has mentioned of exploration and exploitation of domestic coal resources to protect the national interest. It stated that this would be done following the already finalized coal policy. The election pledge committed to launching initiatives toward turning every village self-sufficient in energy under the “My Village, My Town” program.
Coal policy has been formulated giving due priority to national interest. Required priorities will be given to the exploration of coal and other minerals, according to the policy.
In the last three terms, groundbreaking and revolutionary developments have been made in the country's power sector. Uninterrupted and quality power and energy supply are assured, and long-term plans have been adopted to increase power generation capacity to 40,000 MW by 2030 and 60,000 MW by 2041.
Soooooo “low carbon projects to be announced ….
We know Phulbari is clean coal with a higher calorific value and much less transport, will result in less coal being needed for the same output, plus less co2 in shipping ect, and less co2 in exhaust gases.... Greener all round.... And a huge huge saving on fx
All sounds positive to me … and this is from the GCM website … 🤔
https://www.gcmplc.com/phulbari-coal-project/social-environmental-management/climate-change
I wonder if this visit by PM Hasina may have some importance or relevance to the Phulbari open pit mining project 🤔
"The forthcoming Hasina-Xi meeting will serve as a crucial platform for announcing transformative initiatives and embarking on new significant projects," says a highly placed official of the finance ministry”
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/new-projects-chinese-rmb-transaction-top-agenda
Stevehuges, The 1 million trade was from yesterday, and the 150k was from today, both show as trades above the ask, but either way, someone has sold and someone has bought, the confidence for me is that someone was happy to buy ;)