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O/I 11II1)

JD!1onur!1oD:
Bangladesh Iaces one oI the worst power crises oI the world. It is so common a practice here that
we can`t think a day without having load shedding. The total demand Ior electricity in the
country is in Iact less than the demand oI a medium sized city in Europe. Still, due to lack oI
planned investment in the power sector, load shedding has become the Ilagship phenomenon oI
the country's electricity system. Unplanned urbanization and excessive system loss has
compounded the problems. Some parts oI the capital city oI Dhaka may Iace black outs Ior more
than 10 hours a day during the very hot summer.
`hn! 1: Ionn :hnn1Dq?
Load shedding means the discontinuation oI the supply oI electricity Ior the time being. Load
shedding is the term used to describe the deliberate switching oII oI electrical supply to parts oI
the electricity network, and hence to the customers in those areas. This practice is a core part oI
the emergency management oI all electricity networks. In cities and towns it is disrupting liIe in
its various aspects. Economy, agriculture, industry, education and social exchange -- nothing
escapes its inexorable grip.

Load shedding can be required when there is an imbalance between electricity demand
(customers` usage) and electricity supply (the ability oI the electricity network to generate and
transport the required amount oI electricity to meet this demand). Widespread load shedding is
almost always a result oI a deIicit or restriction in generation and/or on the transmission network.


T1:D! 5rDn11o o] TnDqInn:h:

Statistics vary, but the bottom-line is transparently clear; there is a real shortage oI electricity in
comparison to demand. According to oIt-quoted statements by concerned authorities the current
demand Ior electricity is more than 6,000 MW a day while the supply varies between some 3,800
MW to 4,200 MW.
In the rural areas the demand stands at some 2,400 MW per day but the Rural ElectriIication
Board (REB) can supply barely halI oI that. In the capital city, the demand stands at 1,400 MW
but the supply is an unsatisIactory 600 to 650 MW every day. There is no doubt that this
disturbing shortage oI power threatens to turn the summer oI 2010 into a summer oI distressing
discontent.
Cn:rnn 1:D!:
When there is a shortIall in the electricity supply, there can be a need to reduce demand very
quickly to an acceptable level, or risk the entire electricity network becoming unstable and
shutting down completely. This is known as a 'cascade event, and can end in a total or
widespread network shutdown aIIecting very large areas oI a country.

5Ir!1: Ionn :hnn1Dq:

Selective load shedding occurs where time is available (typically up to 30mins) to make selective
choices on what customers are shed. Selective load shedding oIten occurs on the distribution
system level, and typically requires medium to small amounts oI electricity to be 'shed in a
short time. In order to minimize the impact on individual customers and share the burden,
rotational load shedding will occur on the low priority Ieeders iI the load shedding duration
extends Ior several hours. Typically the Iirst group oI customers who were shed will be restored
aIter one or two hours, at the expense oI the next group oI customers to be taken oII supply. This
can continue until the supply/demand equation is balanced again and load shedding is no longer
required.

As a guide, Ieeders that supply major hospitals, mental health care institutions, remand centers,
sewerage and water pumping stations, industries requiring continuous supply, major public
transport supplies, and traIIic lights at major intersections, airports and high rise buildings will
have a higher priority compared to Ieeders that have a predominantly residential, commercial or
other industrial customer mix.

Cnu:: o] 1onn 5hnn1Dq:
This is a result oI concurrent Iailures oI major element(s) in the national grid (e.g. co-incidental
generator or key transmission line Iailures), resulting in protection schemes initiating the
automatic isolation oI additional parts oI the national grid, to protect the entire grid Irom
cascading to a total blackout. Automatic load shedding always occurs on the transmission system
level, with the result being large amounts oI electricity and large blocks oI customers taken oII
supply in a very short time.
It happens when the generation oI power becomes less than the demand. The concerned authority
blocks the Ilow oI electricity in some areas Ior some time to manage the shortage oI power. It
aIIects the student much. The close their books and sit idle in darkness. They suIIer a lot iI
electricity Iails beIore their examination. The industrial units are paralyzed owing to the Iailure
oI electricity. We can minimize load shedding by developing an eIIective power management
system and by reducing system loss.

nzn1n: o] 1onn 5hnn1Dq:

The power shortage eventually leads to the Iailure oI water supply. Most citizens have to Iace a
miserable liIe with little water and no electricity under the scorching tropical heat. Smaller cities
and the countryside oI Bangladesh Iace a worse situation. Many villages oI this low lying
country are not yet electriIied. However, the electriIied villages get the real supply oI electricity
seldom more than 6 hours in each 24 hour span. There are no signiIicant power station projects
in the pipeline and the situation is going to get worse in the coming years.
It is the industry sector which suIIers most Ior load shedding. Industrial production stops due to
load shedding. Or they simply get power supply in shiIt which limits their productive power.
Load shedding causes rise in price level by rising cost oI alternative power in all sectors.
Students suIIer most in their exam time iI they don`t get smooth supply oI power. Simply the
development oI other sectors is Iully related with electricity.
Sometimes it so happens that an important and/or emergency operation is going in the hospital.
But in the mean time there occurs load shedding. So what will happen? The answer is very
common an interruption in the operation or a mistreatment occurs.

#Dn1nI n:u1::
The paramount solution oI this problem is to establish new power station with high production
power. The existing power plants must be maintained in a smooth manner. Raw energy supply
Ior the plants must be ensured. The government must emphasize on this sector.

Government`s Effort:
The Ministry oI Power and Energy has been mobilizing Tk 40,000 crore ($5.88 billion) to
generate 5,000 MW oI electricity to reduce load shedding into a tolerable level within next Iour
and halI years during the term oI the present government. Under the plan, the Power
Development Board (PDB) would produce 500 MW gas-Iired electricity between July and
December 2009 to over come load shedding within December. The PDB would hire Iurnace-oil
based 1,000MW oI electricity Irom private sector Irom January to June 2010, the plan said. In
2011, the government would install Iurnace-oil based 800 MW capacity oI power plant.
Besides the government would also hire another diesel or Iurnace oil based power plant having
capacity oI 700 MW in 2012 to keep load shedding into mild level, the oIIicial said. However,
the government also contemplates to establish Iour coal-Iired based power plants with capacity
oI producing 500 MW oI electricity each with public and private partnership (PPP) in Rajshahi
and Chittagong region.

The power division has tried to utilize the government's budgetary allocation oI Tk. 2000 crore
Ior PPP in this regard, sources added. "II we can create the Iund oI Tk. 6,000 crore, it would be
possible also to mobilise Tk 40,000 crore under ppp to produce 5,000 MW oI electricity within
Iour and halI years," PDB chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir told the New Nation on 29 June 2009.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina permitted the power division to implement
the PDB plan to reduce load shedding up to a tolerable level. Prime Minister's Adviser Ior Power
and Energy Dr TawIiq-e-Elahi Bir Bikram, State Minister Ior Power and Energy Shamsul Haque
Tuku, Power Division Secretary Md Abul Kalam, PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir were
present. Recently Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a power plant at Chandpur.
:.ear power pant:
Bangladesh plans to set up a nuclear power plant, the 1,000 MW power plants at Rangpur,
200 km (120 mi) northwest oI the capital Dhaka, by 2011. Russia is managing this plant.

CoDrIu:1oD:
As Bangladesh is Iacing an acute level oI load shedding so it is not possible Ior the country to
solve the problem over night. But the government must try to overcome the problem. A
comprehensive plan must be taken Ior a long term.


#010703.08
(Wikipedia, 4 October, 2011)
(The Daily Star, October 29, 2011)
(www.wordpress.com, April 16, 2009)
(Answer.com)
(http://www.reallivenews.com/)

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