Northern dists to face load shedding

The electricity consumers in the country's northern region may have to experience power cut and low voltage problem until 10 September as the Barapukuria coal mine will not be able to resume production before that time, reports UNB.

Power secretary Ahmed Kaikaus said this while talking to reporters on Saturday following unveiling of "Net Metering Guideline for Purchase of Rooftop Solar Power" at a programme at Bidyut Bhaban in the city.

"The coal mine authority assured us of resuming their coal production at the mine by 10 September. If they start coal supply, we will be able to resume power generation at the Barapukuria power plant on that date", he told reporters.

He noted that the Power Development Board (PDB) already started power supply to the northern region through alternative arrangement.

But still people may face load shedding of one or two hours along with lower voltage problem there, he added.

The power secretary said the government has formed a committee to study the possible option of importing coal to resume power production before 10 September.

Kaikaus said steps have been taken by the PDB to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the northern districts during the Holy Eid-ul-Azha.

"We have some coal in our reserve system to operate the power plant during Eid period at a low scale to relieve the people from power shortage", he said.

Meanwhile, state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid said that criminal cases were filed against the persons found to be guilty in the incident of coal disappearance from the mine.

Now police and concerned authorities will investigate and put the guilty people on trial, he added.

In the sideline of the same programme, prime minister's energy advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said that the people will have to wait to see the actions being taken by the government.