POWER SENARY OF
BANGLADESH
INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh's energy infrastructure is quite small, insufficient and poorly
managed. The per capita energy consumption in Bangladesh is one of the
lowest (136 kWH) in the world. Noncommercial energy sources, such as
wood, animal wastes, and crop residues, are estimated to account for
over half of the country's energy consumption. Bangladesh has small
reserves of oil and coal, but very large natural gas resources. Commercial
energy consumption is mostly natural gas (around 66%), followed by oil,
hydropower and coal.
Electricity is the major source of power for country's most of the
economic activities. Bangladesh's installed electric generation capacity
was 4.7 GW in 2009; only three-fourth of which is considered to be
‘available’. Only 40% of the population has access to electricity with a per
capita availability of 136 kWh per annum. Problems in the Bangladesh's
electric power sector include corruption in administration, high system
losses, delays in completion of new plants, low plant efficiencies, erratic
power supply, electricity theft, blackouts, and shortages of funds for
power plant maintenance. Overall, the country's generation plants have
been unable to meet system demand over the past decade.
In generating and distributing electricity, the failure to adequately
manage the load leads to extensive load shedding which results in severe
disruption in the industrial production and other economic activities. A
recent survey reveals that power outages result in a loss of industrial
output worth $1 billion a year which reduces the GDP growth by about
half a percentage point in Bangladesh. A major hurdle in efficiently
delivering power is caused by the inefficient distribution system. It is
estimated that the total transmission and distribution losses in
Bangladesh amount to one-third of the total generation, the value of
which is equal to US $247 million per year.
Goals 2020:
Reforms
High power
Providing starting
access in 1977 and reliable
Inter-ministerial
to affordable
Rural Electrification
Committee
electricity oncitizens
to all Board Sector
“Power (REB) created
70 large cooperatives (PBSs) established
Reform
A long way
Electricity
in Bangladesh” (PSRB)out of
to togo7 million consumers
Supplied
constituted
country’s
Electricity in 1993
9.7coverage
million consumers
– 43%recommending
in 2006.
Significant
Unbundling positive
of theimpact on poverty
sector reduction
according to
Per
and social benefits to the rural people – 165
capita electricity consumption
functional
kWh lines
Unbundling starting in early 1991
Corporatization
One ofthe
of the lowest in sector
world.entities
Creation of Dhaka Electricity Supply
Establishment
Pace of power
Authority (DESA)of an
sector
independent
development
Regulatory
to be perform
Didn’t Commission.
accelerated.
well.
The National Energy Policy
adopted in 1996
Sector unbundling
Private sector participation
Establishment of an Energy Regulatory
Commission
“Private Sector Power Generation
PowerPolicy
Cell of Bangladesh”
created was adopted
under the
in 1996
Energy Ministry in 1995
“Policy
To drive powerGuidelines for Small
sector reforms and to Power
promote private
Plants power
(SPP) development
in Private Sector”
Two approved
companies in created
1998. in 1996
Power Grid Company of Bangladesh
Limited (PGCB)
Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited
(DESCO).
Vision Statement and Policy
Statement on Power Sector
Reforms in June 2000
Corporatization of Ashugonj Power
Station in 2002
Energy Regulatory Commission Act
2003
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory
Creation of West Zone Power
Commission (BERC) starting in
Distribution Company (WZPDC) in
2004
2003
Approval to convert BPDB into a
Establishment of Electricity
Holding Company in January 2004
Generation Company of
New company
Bangladesh “Dhaka
(EGCB) Power
in 2003.
Distribution Company Limited
(DPDC)” incorporated in 2006
Policy guideline for power purchase
from Captive Power Plants (CPPs)
prepared in 2006.
largest
the
675,000
flat hydroelectric
production
terrain MW of
of power
- limited power plant
through
hydro-electricity
potential useino
the
the world
gravitational force of falling o
approximately
the rivers
Hydropower
located in
between 20%
the CHT
of
prospectsthe
Brazil hold
world’
inand
flowing water.
electricity
such
Paraguay.potentials.
Bangladesh
most widely used form of renewabl
accounting
Kaptai
can generate
energy. on 12,600
forKarnafuli
about 88%
river o
MW of power.
height
generatingof
electricity the dam
218 reaches
from
MW
produces no direct waste, and has of 196
power. meter
renewabl
and the
sources. length 7.76 km.
located
other
Hazard
Economics
230 MW
considerably on the
potential
generation
lower Barak River
riverslevelin
capacity
output are
of th
lake created by the project spreads
Manipur
greenhouse
Matamuhuri
Limited
Greenhouse
reservoir
over 1,350 State
gas,
sq.and
Services
size gas
is
kmof
LifeIndia
carbon
Sangu.
777 dioxide,
emissions
andsq. km tha
contains 29
fossil fuel
multi-purpose
Environmental
billion tons powered
of damage
water. energy plants.
- electricity
Multi-purpose
Economic
generation development
use
and flood control
cost of the relocation
Population project stands at US$20
Social
billion.
electricitydisruption
generation capacity
- 1500 MWs
risk of dam failure
impact on haor eco-system
Nuclear power plants
CONCLUSIONS
In a society with increasing energy demand and
decreasing supplies, we must look to the future and
develop our best potential renewable resources. Tidal
power fits the bill as a natural source of energy with
many benefits. When developed ,tidal power could be a
primary provider for our future energy requirements. In
this paper, ‘Tidal Power and Coastal Development
Program’ is discussed as a worthwhile project, featuring
both technical and social innovativeness. Technically, it
can be the world's first project utilizing an island’s flood
control system to generate small-scale tidal power and
developing local aquaculture management. Socially, it
will be a model of local capacity building, with Sandwip's
socio-economic advancement.
