Speakers at the inauguration ceremony of power station opened by PM Sheikh Hasina through video conferencing in Noakhali Companiganj upazila held at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Room on Wednesday. -AA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 100% electrification in Companiganj upazila of Noakhali on Wednesday noon.
She opened this through a video conference from her Gono Bhaban residence. The opening ceremony in Noakhali held at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Room. Hundred percent electrification was accomplished through providing 1,284 kilometres electric line and 44,000 electric connections in 42 villages in the upazila.
Deputy Commissioner Tonmoy Das, Superintendent of Noakhali Police (ASP) Alamgir Hossain, Noakhali Municipality Mayor Shadullah khan Sohel, Companiganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Mohammad Shahab Uddin, the upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Faisal Ahmed, Basurhat Municipality Panel Mayor Abul Khair, among others, were present at the program.
Electricity is crucial to economic growth, sustainable infrastructure development as well as poverty reduction and security of any country. Future economic growth crucially depends on the long-term availability of uninterrupted and quality electricity supply. Security, climate change, and public health are closely interrelated with electricity. Overall, at least 1.6 billion people one-fourth of the world's population currently live without electricity and this figure has hardly changed in absolute terms since 1970.
Globally, electricity use is rising rapidly as new major economies develop in places such as India, Sri Lanka etc. This need for electricity drives a growing demand for electricity generation, with thousands of new power plants needed across the world over the coming decades.
Every form of electricity generation has its strengths and weakness and future electricity generation will need a range of options, although there must be low carbon emission if greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced.
In line with this aspect, the vision of the government is to enrich Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021. The government is planning to speed up power demand growth by setting up economic zones and industrial parks, increasing textile export etc. For this reason, a sustainable generation expansion plan has been prepared to provide the reliable power supply for boosting up the economic growth in the country.
There is a clear relationship between GDP and electrical power consumption. If a lesser amount of electricity generated, the cost of electricity will go up, less would be used and GDP would go down. The argument is that more desirable more power and reducing the cost and outcome will be a higher GDP.
Power sector in Bangladesh witnessed a turnaround since 2009. The total 6,665 MW new power plants and 600 MW import based power connected to the national grid since 2009. At present power generation, installed generation capacity increased to 12,399 MW from 4,942 MW. Per capita generations increased from 183 KWh to 371 KWh. The electricity coverage in grid areas increased from 47% to 75% (including renewable energy).
Highest average peak generation of 8,348 MW (9 April 2016) was achieved compared to 3,268 MW in 6 January 2009. System loss (distribution) reduced from 18% to 13%.An agreement was signed with the Russian Federation for setting up 2,400 MW capacity nuclear power plant. An initiative is going on to import more power from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. Innovative financing strategy introduced in power sector for setting up power generation projects.
Now, Bangladesh has shown enormous achievement in power sector. Even, power sector has been able to meet the government's targets and has even been able to achieve the higher level of economic growth. This economic growth has paved the way to rapid urbanization and increased industrialization. Extensive sustainable development structures have accelerated the overall economic growth.
elopment is an adequate source of energy. Universally, the demand for electricity is gradually growing. World wise largest sources of energy are the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas. Greenhouse gas emissions from producing electricity-using fossil fuels contribute significantly to global warming.
Now it is an emergency to encourage the use of nuclear power as it is likely to remain cheaper owing to volatile in oil price in international market, declining of conventional energy resource, high cost of renewable energy and increasing global warming. Above this perspective, Bangladesh Government is going install two nuclear power plants of capacity 2400 MW at Ruppur in northwestern Pabna district. Unit-1 of 1200 MW capacity will be commissioned by 2023 and 2nd unit will be commissioned by 2024.
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