Summer power crisis: Equal load shedding for cities and villages, assures Energy Adviser

As the country braces for summer, Power and Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan announced that load shedding will be carried out equally in both urban and rural areas. 

Speaking during the ongoing Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference in the capital on Monday, the adviser confirmed that there would be no distinction in how load shedding is applied.

“During the summer, except for hospitals and Key Point Installations (KPI), load shedding will be the same everywhere. There will be no difference between cities and villages,” said Fouzul Kabir.

This news comes amid rising concerns over electricity shortages as the irrigation season ramps up. 

Additionally, with Ramadan just a month away, electricity demand is already on the rise. 

The adviser assured that despite these challenges, uninterrupted electricity service would be maintained during Ramadan.

“Even with the energy crisis, we will ensure uninterrupted electricity during Ramadan,” Fouzul Kabir stated, offering some reassurance. 

However, he highlighted the growing strain on the power grid, particularly from air conditioning usage. “AC load has jumped from five thousand to six thousand megawatts. If we can control this, we could save two to two and a half thousand megawatts of electricity.” 

To manage this, a request has already been made to the Religious Adviser, asking that the air conditioning in mosques be set to at least 25 degrees during Tarawih prayers.

This assurance comes on the back of a previous statement by Fouzul Kabir earlier this month. 

On February 5, following an inter-ministerial meeting at the Power House in the capital, the energy adviser briefed reporters that there would be no load shedding during Ramadan, unless caused by mechanical issues. 

However, he cautioned that during the summer, load shedding could rise between 700 to 1,400 megawatts.

Despite these promises, concerns remain high. 

There are fears that the ongoing fuel import uncertainties and delays in payments to private power plants could result in widespread load shedding in both Ramadan and the summer months.

The Power Development Board (PDB) has also been facing financial difficulties. 

According to officials, the PDB has been struggling to pay power plant owners for the last two years, which has been exacerbated since 2022 due to the devaluation of the local currency following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

With less than a month until Ramadan, all eyes are on the government to see if they can keep their promise of keeping the lights on and ensuring the energy needs of the nation are met during this critical time.