On Tuesday, the country experienced power load shedding exceeding 1000 MW due to soaring electricity demand, marking the first instance of such a severe shortage in recent days. Despite record power generation reaching 16,233 MW, the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) reported a demand of 15,200 MW at 3 pm on Tuesday, with load shedding peaking at 1049 MW.
By Tuesday evening, the demand forecast surged to 16,800 MW against a supply forecast of 16,530 MW, highlighting the strain on the power grid. As part of a strategy to prioritize urban areas like Dhaka and other large cities, the brunt of load shedding was shifted to rural regions, exacerbating challenges for residents amid sweltering summer temperatures.
State-owned Petrobangla revealed that the country's gas production of 3,056 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) fell short of demand, which stood at 3,760 MMCFD. Consequently, several gas-dependent power plants remained non-operational due to insufficient gas supply. Power plants received only 1330 MMCFD against their demand of 2316.9 MMCFD, further contributing to the ongoing electricity deficit.
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