Power crisis may continue till September
07 July 2022, 07:17 pm | Updated: 25 November 2024, 12:35 am
The government has no alternative other than load shedding to address the ongoing gas and electricity crisis at least till September, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury Bir Bikrom said today (July 7, 2022).
"The Russia-Ukraine war has created energy and power crisis in the country. This crisis has also occurred in other countries like Japan, Germany and Australia," he told a press conference after a meeting on the power and gas situation across the country at the meeting room of the Prime Minister's Office here today.
The adviser said the use of air-conditioner (AC) in markets, shopping malls, mosques, offices and courts should be reduced to save electricity. The temperature of the AC should not be kept below 25 degrees, he added. He suggested reducing office hours, saying that this will save a lot of electricity,
"The current situation is like a war. If we all work together, we will be able to overcome it," he said and mentioned that the Prime Minister has asked everyone to be economical in electricity use for this reason.
He also said the shopping malls and social events need to be closed by 7 pm. Besides, if office hours are made 9am-3pm, electricity will be saved.
He said that in the current situation, everyone should work consciously to save electricity.
Load shedding will not be more than 500 MW per day if all become frugal in power use, he said, adding that according to the data, 14,500 MW of electricity will be required daily till September if everyone becomes economical in using electricity and it will be possible to reduce this demand to 12,500 MW.
He said that the crisis could escalate if the use of electricity does not reduce. He also said that action would be taken against those who use fuel and electricity illegally and do not pay their bills on time.
He said every effort is being made to produce new gas in the country. Petrobangla and the Energy Department are continuing their activities in energy and power generation.
