Parbatipur, Sep 10 (V7N) – The Barapukuria Thermal Power Station, Bangladesh’s first coal-based power plant, has been completely shut down, resulting in significant disruptions in the power supply across the northern region. All three units of the 525 MW power plant ceased operations at 9 a.m. on Monday due to a mechanical fault.

This is the first time in history that all three units of the power station have stopped simultaneously, leading to severe load-shedding in eight northern districts. Authorities are struggling to manage the power crisis, which has caused inconvenience to millions of people in the affected areas.

Chief Engineer of the Barapukuria plant, Abu Bakr Siddique, explained that the issue arose from a mechanical failure in the production system. The power plant's third unit had previously faced similar problems in October 2022, when the turbine oil pump (Turbine General) malfunctioned. The same fault led to the shutdown on Monday, and restarting the units hinges on the arrival of replacement parts from China.

Responsibility for repairing the fault lies with the Chinese contractor Harbin, which is under contract to supply all necessary parts until February 2025. However, according to Siddique, the company has been unresponsive despite multiple requests, leaving the plant inoperable. "We are unable to purchase the parts ourselves due to the binding terms of the contract with Harbin," he added.

As the plant remains inactive, the northern districts continue to experience extensive load-shedding, exacerbating the already precarious energy situation in the region. Authorities are pressing for a swift resolution, but the timeline for restoring full power generation remains uncertain, pending cooperation from the Chinese contractor.

END/SMA/AJ