United News of Bangladesh

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Sunday approved 11 development projects including a Tk 1,818 crore project to modernise and enhance the capacity of 33/11 KV substations under the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB). The approval came from an Ecnec meeting held at the NEC Conference Room with Ecnec Chairperson and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said the total project cost will be shared by the government (Tk 6,677 crore), project assistance (Tk 2,428.04 crore) and the implementing agencies’ own funds (Tk 256.89 crore). Of the 11 projects involving an overall cost of Tk 9,361.92 crore, five are new, three are revised while three others received time extension without any cost escalation. According to the Planning Commission, BREB will implement its substation modernisation project in Cumilla under Chattogram Division and in Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Tangail, and Gopalganj districts under Dhaka Division by June 2029. The Tk 1,818 crore project will be funded by Tk 479.98 crore from the government, Tk 1,080.67 crore from development partner KfW and Tk 257.35 crore from BREB’s own resources. The project includes modernisation and capacity enhancement of 25 outdated outdoor rural-type 33/11 KV power substations and construction and upgradation of 625 km of power lines. Once implemented, the project will boost BREB’s power distribution capacity by 418 MVA, reduce system loss in the project areas from 6.62 percent to 5.82 percent, and cut the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) from 332 minutes to 300 minutes. 12 projects get ECNEC nod on Sunday Other projects approved at the meeting included sustainable agricultural development in Rangpur region through modern technology expansion (Tk 143 crore), BMRE of Carew and Co (BD) Limited (2nd revised; timeframe extended without cost increase), Establishment of Rabindra University, Bangladesh (Tk 519.15 crore), Establishment of burn and plastic surgery units at five medical college hospitals in Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Faridpur (1st revised; additional Tk 360.11 crore), and construction of flats for government employees at Azimpur Government Colony, Dhaka (Tk 774.59 crore). The other projects are construction of two residential buildings for officials and employees of Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defence (Tk 65.12 crore), Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project (3rd revised; additional Tk 2,826.55 crore), Expansion and development of safe water supply and sanitation system in Bandarban Pourashava and three upazila sadar areas in Bandarban district (1st revised; timeframe extended without cost increase), establishment of telecommunication network at Mirsarai Economic Zone, Chattogram (Tk 61.90 crore) and construction of mini stadiums at upazila level, 2nd phase (1st revised; Tk 2,855.42 crore). Besides, the meeting was apprised of nine projects earlier approved by the Planning Adviser.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has blasted Siemens India for the company’s 30-month delay in completing work on 24 power substations in the capital city. Nasrul’s outburst came during inauguration of the newly constructed substations, each having 33-11 kV capacity, of Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco) on Thursday.  Read: Desco’s underground cabling plan misses JICA deadline for its own fault “Please, reconsider awarding contracts to those bidders who delay or fail to complete the jobs as per schedule”, he told power sector officials in a virtually delivered speech. The function, with Desco chairman and additional secretary of the Power Division Sheikh Faizul Amin in the chair, was also addressed by Power Secretary Habibur Rahman and Desco Managing Director Kausar Ameer Ali.   The Desco Chief noted that the Siemens India, the contractor of the project, started work in 2017, but it took an additional 30 months to complete it.  Nasrul instructed the top officials of Desco, the project implementing agency, to impose liquidated damage (LD) as penalty for this delay in completing the jobs.  Read:Desco to get smart with pre-paid meters “Many of the industries have been deprived of electricity supply due to the delay in completing the job...For this they have to incur a huge financial loss”, he told the officials saying, ``You must take action against Siamese India.  He also alleged that the same contractor has installed a power substation at his constituency in Keraniganj which is substandard and fails to function properly.  “You must take into consideration in future about such failed companies while awarding any contract”, said the annoyed-looking state minister.  He also advised Desco to take immediate measures for upgrading the newly installed substations or else these will lose their capacity by 2025.  Read:Desco to provide smart prepaid meters to all customers by 2023 “If you don’t initiate an up-gradation project, these substations will not work after 2025”, he said, adding that Desco has to take steps immediately as the tendering process takes huge amount of time.                   Desco Managing Director informed that it spent Tk 3,75.51 crore to build the new substations at 24 locations across the city which will serve 450,000 consumers to receive quality electricity and help reduce system loss by 1.21 per cent from existing 8.5 per cent to 7.29 per cent. 

Different areas of the city will undergo serial blackouts for 8 hours from 8am to 4pm as Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) will conduct annual maintenance works in power substations in its distribution network. As per a public notice of the Desco, the maintenance works, which already began with shutting down supply in Mirpur Stadium and adjoining areas on Thursday, will continue till November 30 this year. As per the notice, the city’s Gulshan Road -71 East to Banani block-C and D, Post Office to south of Banani Kamal Ataturk Road, Banani block – BC, Kakali Bas stand to Banani Bazar (south) and Banani Road-16 will have no electricity from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday. That will be followed by areas under Desco’s Dakkhinkhan substation on Monday. Also read: Some city areas to see disruption in gas supply Friday