REB expects to cover all upazilas by 2018

Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) has said they expected to bring under its cent percent power coverage all the country's 460 upazilas by the end of next year, a press release said yesterday. "So far 16 upazilas came under 100 percent (REB) coverage . . . by December 2018 all the 460 upazilas of the country will be brought under our cent percent coverage in phases," the statement quoted REB chairman Major General Moin Uddin as telling a conference of its officials in Dhaka.

He added that the process to expand the converge was proceeding fast with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated simultaneously 100 percent electrification at 10 upazilas alone last month through a video conference from her office.  In this regards, 16 projects are being implemented at a cost of Taka 36,912 crore, while seven more projects are on the pipeline, Major General Moin said.  "The number of our clients would be raised to two crore bringing 22 lakh more families under REB coverage by June this year," he added. The theme of the conference was 'Easy System, Rapid Conn-ection'.  Managing directors, directors, chief engineers, high officials and members of BREB were present in the conference.

Recently, Nasrul Hamid, the state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said that, the government is providing 3 lacs of new electricity connections on an average in a year. The government has no indifference in giving new connections to any type of consumers. He also informed that, Palli Bidyut Samities (PBS) have electrified a total of 56 lacs of new consumers in the last 18 months. PBSs under Bangladesh Rural Electr-ification Board (BREB or REB) have initiated 56 lacs new electricity connections throughout the country from July 2015 to December 2016.
As of January 2017 the country's installed capacity of power generation is 15,351 MW including captive powers. However, the top power generation record was 9,036 MW (30th June, 2016), the minister said.

He also said, the government has started installing pre-paid meters, in order to ensure efficient and affordable usage of power and to establish a smart grid. There is a plan to install 2 crore of pre-paid meters within the year of 2021 and 5 of the power distribution companies have already installed 1 lac and 50 pre-paid meters.

-AA Business Desk