Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Friday visited Power Grid Bangladesh PLC (Power Grid) and the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) to review the country’s power management, existing challenges and future development plans.
During the visit, officials of Power Grid briefed the minister on the overall power system situation, key technical and operational challenges, and ongoing initiatives to strengthen the national grid.
The minister, who was visiting the organisation for the first time since assuming office, inaugurated a newly established Protection & Automation Laboratory and a day-care centre at the Power Grid premises.
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Officials informed him about national grid operations and efficiency enhancement measures, the power supply situation in the Mymensingh region, distribution system management, steps taken to maintain grid stability, and progress in developing the Dhaka Ring Transmission Network.
Speaking at the event, Mahmood said the country had limited time left to complete preparations for the commissioning of the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, targeted for November this year.
“We are moving forward with preparatory work involving all relevant stakeholders to achieve the target,” he said.
The minister observed that while power generation and transmission capacities had improved over the years, corresponding upgrades in the distribution network had not kept pace.
“As a result, despite adequate generation and transmission capacity, shortcomings remain in the supply system,” he said, adding that the previous government had expanded electricity access in an unplanned manner without ensuring effective coordination across the sector.
He said many areas continue to experience prolonged power outages mainly because of weaknesses in distribution lines rather than generation or transmission constraints.
Mahmood said discussions had already been held with Power Grid Bangladesh PLC (PGCB) on identifying and addressing the problems. He instructed officials to submit detailed proposals for resolving the issues so that corrective measures could be taken promptly.
Referring to capacity payments in the power sector, the minister said the previous government had left a significant financial burden through capacity charge obligations.
“However, the new government cannot change everything overnight. These issues must be addressed through legal processes,” he said, adding that the Law Ministry is reviewing the matter and that existing contracts are being examined for possible action.
At the briefing, Power Grid officials said that operating gas-fired power plants in and around Dhaka, including those at Ghorashal, Haripur, Siddhirganj, Meghnaghat, Mymensingh and Ashuganj, along with the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant, at full capacity would enable more efficient and cost-effective management of the national grid.
They said this would reduce the need for long-distance power transmission, lower system losses and help maintain voltage stability while ensuring quality electricity supply to consumers.
Officials also informed the minister that Power Grid had successfully completed the necessary transmission infrastructure and operational capacity enhancement work required to safely, reliably and continuously evacuate electricity from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to the national grid.
Regarding Mymensingh, officials said local electricity demand significantly exceeds local generation capacity.
Several key transmission projects have faced delays due to various complications.
However, the commissioning of the Shambhuganj and Tangail grid substations and associated transmission lines within the current year is expected to substantially improve power supply in the region.
The meeting also highlighted concerns over unnecessary tripping and the practice of manually shutting down feeders during adverse weather conditions, which officials said negatively affect national grid stability.
Greater coordination, accountability and technology-driven management among all distribution utilities were stressed to ensure grid security and reliability.
Power Grid officials further briefed the minister on progress in constructing the high-capacity Dhaka Ring Transmission Network, aimed at meeting growing electricity demand in the capital and surrounding areas while improving transmission system capacity, safety and reliability.
The minister was also informed about the establishment of the Grid Studies and Innovation Facility (GSIF), developed to support the government’s renewable energy expansion plans.
The facility enables domestic analysis and simulation studies on renewable energy integration, grid stability and other complex technical issues under the supervision of PGCB engineers.
Officials said the newly inaugurated Protection & Automation Laboratory would serve as a modern “simulation-to-solution” platform and is expected to evolve into a world-class research centre for the transmission sector.
The facility will support fault and disturbance analysis and the implementation of advanced grid protection systems, contributing to greater reliability of the national grid, particularly in preparation for the operation of the Rooppur nuclear plant.