Govt emphasises on supplying uninterrupted power at fair price

Staff Correspondent: The government has emphasized on ensuring supply of quality and uninterrupted electricity at affordable prices across the country.
“We’ve taken effective measures to improve the quality of customer services,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told yesterday.
Noting that about 99.5 percent area of the country has already been brought under the electricity coverage, he said simultaneously some projects have been taken to modernize the transmission and distribution system of the power sector.
Nasrul Hamid said uninterrupted and quality power supply is not far away as the power generation capacity reached 25,235 MW and various projects are being implemented to ensure affordable price of electricity for common people.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the power and energy sector has created an enormous space out of our imagination. We need more skilled manpower to deal with this sector,” he said.
The state minister said steps are taken to use modern technology in line with the Vision-2021 and Vision-2041, adding that projects such as automation, smart grid, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) center, underground cabling are implemented in power and energy sector, the entire scenario will be changed radically.”
The government is working hard to develop inclusive power system for all through enhancing capacity and expanding transmission lines, he said, adding, “Efforts are also underway to set power cables and substations underground.”
Nasrul Hamid said huge primary energy is needed to keep up pace of development. “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is being imported through floating terminals. Land based LNG terminals are being constructed. The setting up of LPG terminal is also going ahead,” he added.
He said that the government is attaching special importance to the expansion of renewable energy as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has suggested promoting clean energy, green energy and energy efficiency after becoming Chairman of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.
According to the energy ministry, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd (DPDC), Dhaka Electricity Supply Company Ltd, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Northern Electricity Supply Company Ltd, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board and other power distribution companies have undertaken various projects to ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply.
Besides, DPDC has been implementing a project to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Dhaka’s central and north-west zones and major parts of Narayanganj in the next three years, it said.