
Multiple problems hit the publicly-owned 525MW coal-based Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant, accounting for almost half of the installed power generation capacity to meet the electricity demand in Rangpur zone, with its production dropping below 50 MW on Tuesday.
The BTPP third unit with an installed power generation capacity of 275 MW has remained out of operation since 5:20am on Monday due to some technical faults, the Bangladesh Power Development Board confirmed.
The first unit of the power plant with an installed generation capacity of 125 MW had gone out of operation following a sudden drop in voltage in the national grid.
The first unit, brought back to operation two hours later, went once again off the grid following another round of voltage problem in the grid, said BTPP’s chief engineer Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique, adding that they brought the unit back to operation again at 10:51pm on Monday.
‘We can’t say for sure when the third unit is coming back to operation as some parts in the machine need to be replaced,’ said Abu Bakar.
PDB member Zahurul Islam said that BTPP’s technical problems included troubles in the air heating system and battery backups.
Bangladesh does not produce power-generating machines. The parts need to be imported, which might take a while.
The third unit, before going out of operation, supplied between 150 MW and 200 MW. The first unit provided 75 MW at the beginning of the year.
This was the second time the BTPP suffered a complete shutdown due to technical problems. The first incident occurred in February.Â
The second unit of the plant with 125MW capacity has been out of operation since 2020 due to lack of maintenance, which was never done in the 15 years during the past Awami League regime.
Power Grid Bangladesh chief engineer BM Mizanul Hassan said that they were still investigating what led to the voltage drop in the national grid on Monday.
He confirmed power supply disruption in Rangpur, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh for several hours on Monday.
PGB data show that power plants in the Rangpur zone generated 435 MW on Tuesday.
Limited use of the BTPP resulted in a huge coal stock piling up in the power plant coal yard, with a risk of triggering fire. Extra measures have been required over the past several months to keep smouldering coal stacks from going up in fire.
The Barapukuria coal mine, also owned by the government, refused to stop mining coal despite requests from the power plant authorities.