Actual Scenario

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.

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 Problems in the Bangladesh's electric power sector include corruption in
administration, high system losses, and 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. Electricity is the basic infrastructure
of today‘s modern development. But unfortunately this is the most painful

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suffering and crisis of Bangladesh. We are having huge shortage. This shortage
will continue for years unless something is done under Crash program. The
adverse impact of electricity shortage is enormous. Every sector is affected and
our economy is going to sink. At present Experts has opined no improvement of
Power supply for next 3-4 years.

According to the official statistics, the country‘s electricity shortage gone up

1000 megawatts (MW) to 1259 MW with the demand of 4806 MW on 2006.
Authority said this year (2009) about 1400 MW to 1800 MW electricity
shortage will face this year, which is almost twice more than last year and the
country need about 5000 MW. So this summer we might face the problem that‘s
we have not face last ten years.

Power Development Board (PDB) sources said while the official power
demand was just 5000MW, the unofficial demand was hovering around 6000
MW. The officially estimated power demand is 5000 MW against a generation
of around 3500 MW. Around 1500 MW power could not be generated due to
short supply of gas to many power plants. Gas is a major concern also because
several new gas-fired power plants with nearly 1000 MW generation capacity
are expected to be drafted into service this year. ―We are expecting 200MW
new power generation from May. If we cannot ensure the gas supplies, it will
become meaningless‖ PDB pointed out.

A PDB official said the real power situation was worse than the official picture.
―The Rural Electrification Board (REB) needs 2500 MW, but is given less than
half of that. Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA) and Dhaka Electric
Supply Company (DESCO) need more than 2000 MW power and the PDB
needs another 2000 MW,‖ he added.

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 Explanation of Power Alert Colors

The Power Alert colors represent the balance between supply and demand
on the power system. When the color reaches brown, the system is in a critical
state and unless enough load is reduced voluntarily, load shedding will start.

BROWN: The electricity supply, RED: The electricity supply,

nationally, is under severe strain which nationally, is under increasing
means that load shedding is in progress. strain. Please switch off appliances
Please switch off all loads except such as stoves, microwaves, air-
minimal lighting and your television conditioners, and kettles for the
set. This should continue for the remainder of the evening peak
remainder of the evening peak period or period or until the status returns to
until the the status returns to red, orange orange.
or green.

ORANGE: The electricity supply,

nationally, is under strain. Please switch
off non-essential appliances such as GREEN: There is limited strain on
tumble dryers, washing machines, the electricity supply, nationally, but
dishwashers, pool pumps and please use electricity wisely and
unnecessary lights for the duration of switch off lights in unoccupied room
the evening peak period or until the
status returns to green.

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 Consequence

Dhaka, Apr 6 (bdnews24.com) — Afroza Parveen, an official from a

private firm, went to Shewrapara to buy two charger fans and a few charger
torches. She already has an Instant Power Supply (IPS), which she had earlier
bought due to irregular electricity. But since load shedding is very frequent, the
IPS cannot recharge itself fully after each load-shedding period. Younus
Rahman was in the shop at the same time to buy an IPS. He said that it was
quite impossible to work during the day as he could not sleep well at night due
to constant power interruption. Zainal Abedin, owner of Madina Electronics
said he had sold around 350 charger fans last month, and even more torches.
In Tejgaon, Iqbal Ashraf was looking to buy charger lights. He has two IPSs at
home – but even they are unable to provide sufficient lights for his daughter
who is studying for her HSC exams. An electronics goods shop in the area sold
over 100 IPSs in March. The power crisis is particularly affecting Mirpur,
Badda, Mohammadpur, Basabo, Jatrabari and Old Dhaka. Sarwar Alam from
Mirpur Shah Ali Bagh area said the load shedding was supposed to continue for
two hours, but it often went on for much longer. "The power is often absent for
as long as four hours and sometimes it is only comes back for one and half
hours."

Bangladesh is facing huge load shedding of electricity. Almost all part of

Dhaka having load shedding everyday at least four to five hours. In Karwan
Bazar, power disruption occurred five times with more than five hours of outage
between 8:00am and 5:00pm and in 24 hours almost eight to nine hours.
Multiple power cuts for periods totaling six to seven hours occurred in Eskaton
Garden, Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Moghbazar, Khilgaon, Goran, Shahjahanpur,
Mohammadpur, Banani, Uttara and other places.

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Every summer Bangladesh face huge load shedding problem. Bangladesh
electricity power is not generate as much as our demand. So every summer we
face huge load shedding and people are suffering, but in winter there is almost
not load shedding. In summer temperatures goes up to around 40° Celsius. So in
this situation if there is load-shedding of electricity people face uncertain
condition.

Due to lack of sufficient power supply, the water pumps of Dhaka WASA
cannot work properly, which as a result, reduces the level of water supply.
When there is no power, household owners cannot pull-up water when it is
available. A house owner at Mohammadpur said, "We can't draw water for the
last four days. When the supply water does come, there's no power to draw it.
"Moreover, when there is some water in the reservoir, we can't use the motor
pumps, as they have broken down."We've to bring the water from the fifth floor
with buckets," headed. WASA officials said there are generators only for 213
pumps out of 546. The rest are run by ordinary electricity.

Bangladesh has been facing electricity shortage for many years. In last
few years this problem was not serious but in this year 2010 the problem has
exceeded the common people's patient. People are facing heavy load shading
problem. In this hot summer people have to stay ten to twelve hours without
electricity. If the authority keeps run for one hour another one hour they have to
stay without electricity. Bangladesh is located in tropical region. In summer
season temperature rises up to 40 degree Celsius. So, it's too hot. People cannot
use AC or fan for load shading in this country when the electricity goes away.
Like other professional‘s students, businessman, online home worker,
computer user, industrialists are badly victim of this problem seriously.
In this modern age the power is the main and fundamental demand for common
people to the government but the government is failed to meet this demand.

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After achieving independence the government has come and gone but no govt.
has thought about this essential service for common people. Especially ministry
of power, Ministry of planning and chief of the country and ministry of finance
are responsible for this situation. All of them have shown negligence in this
important sector. Bangladesh is an over populated country. More than 1617
peoples live in per square mile. To keep pace with population govt. should
establish power plant project but no govt. has done this important job. So,
common people of Bangladesh are frustrated to see this kind of attitude of
Bangladesh Government. They have been suffering incredible inconveniences
in this sum.

Solution

There are two types of Electricity shortage depending on timing.

a. Peak-hour (Evening)-shortage-, which mainly affects residential and

other Users. Our present Peak hour shortage is around 30% (1500MW) or more
of our Generation.
b. Off-Peak-hour-shortage-, this affects Industries, Offices, and other
Users? Our present Off-Peak hour shortage is around 15-20% (500 MW) of
Generation. We can reduce Electricity crises by reduction of Losses of electrical
system. These losses if effectively reduced can save 250 MW or 5% of our
electricity demand. Assuming 1 MW plant cost Tk 4 Crore, it will save at least
1000 Crore and construction period of 3-4 years.

Losses are of two types:

a. Non Technical Losses- Which is mainly due to electricity theft, leakage

from trees in contact with electrical lines etc.
b. Technical Losses-, which is mainly in equipments, due to technical
reasons, equipment quality etc.

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HOW TO REDUCE NON-TECHNICAL LOSSES
a. Meter checking by crash program this will lead to at least 3+ %
Peak/Off-Peak Hr saving (150 MW in Peak hour) Meters are considered CASH
BOX of Electricity system. These must have accuracy, durable and reliable.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT:

All Electric meters should be Digital. Now a day Digital Single phase
electrical meters are available in the market. It‘s to be regularly checked
(Industries twice or more, others every month) in following priority.

1. Large Industries.
2. Other Industries.
3. Markets, shopping malls etc.
4. Residential quarters in posh areas.
5. Others.

Incandescent lamp Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

Normal incandescent lamps consume more than 90% electricity for

heating and 10% for illumination, so avoid it. For lights used more than 4
hours a day, use Fluorescent or Compact Fluorescent lamps (CFL) or
Energy Saving Lamps. It will save more than 66% electricity cost. Again
incandescent lamps have 1000-hour life & CFL have 6,000-15,000 hours
life. Slim tube lights give better light and save electricity.

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 Conclusion
Motivation is a key to success in today’s management. People are
required to make understand that we are having shortage of electricity. Public
might think they are paying genuinely, so why they should not be provided
with adequate supply.

Well if we are convinced and motivated about electricity saving and minimizing
Load shedding, then we should follow these guidelines and motivate or
convince others to follow it. If people in Europe, America can do it, then why
can’t we?

“SAVE ENERGY, SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT & SAVE MONEY”

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