Electricity demand is expected to reach 15,700 MW during the holy Ramadan set to begin in March, Energy Adviser Dr. Fouzul Kabir Khan has said.
"We are making all-out efforts to ensure Ramadan remains fully free from load shedding. There might be disruptions due to other reasons but not due to a supply shortfall," he said while addressing a press briefing at Biduyt Bhaban in the city on Wednesday.
The briefing followed a preparatory meeting with top officials of power and gas sector utilities ahead of summer.
Responding to a question, he clarified that the government has no immediate plans to raise power or gas tariffs.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is considering a gas price hike for industrial consumers who wish to consume additional gas, said the adviser.
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He said after Ramadan, electricity demand may rise to 18,000 MW during the summer when demand of power for irrigation also increases.
During this period, there might be a load shedding of 700 MW to 1,400 MW daily, he added.
"However, our efforts will focus on managing the cooling load, which primarily comes from the use of air conditioners," he said urging consumers to set their ACs above 25 degrees Celsius.
He added that the AC load is approximately 6,000 MW, which can be reduced with consumers’ cooperation.
The adviser said he had held meetings with the Finance Adviser, Finance Ministry officials, the Bangladesh Bank Governor, and CEOs of various public and private banks who assured full support in providing adequate funding to meet the demands of the power and gas sectors.
Power Secretary and the Chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) were also present.
"This Ramadan, gas supply will be increased to 1,200 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) from the current 900 MMCFD to enhance power generation from gas-fired plants,” he said.
He said the government will import four LNG cargoes to meet the additional gas demand for power generation.
Fouzul Kabir said that gas supply will be maintained at 1,100 MMCFD during the summer to meet the requirements of gas-fired power plants from April to September. "Our strategy prioritizes increasing gas-based power generation," he added.
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He also said load shedding will be balanced between rural and urban areas. "We assure you that there will be no discrimination in load shedding between rural and urban areas," he said.
The adviser highlighted that the government's primary focus is on food production, fertilizer supply, and ensuring uninterrupted power and gas supply.
Regarding shop closure timings, he said there is currently no strict embargo on closing shops by 8 pm but the situation will be closely monitored, and decisions will be made based on evolving circumstances.
He also mentioned that the government is considering clearing the dues of the BPDB by paying private power producers, though it may not be possible to clear all dues in one go.