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The power grid of Bangladesh needs to be immediately prepared to accommodate sophisticated power sources like the Rooppur nuclear power plant, which is scheduled to evacuate about 2,400 MW in the coming years, a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study has suggested.
It also proposed upgradation of the national load dispatch centre, capacity development of officials and several mid- and long-term activities.
According to the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan, a large number of grid- and household-level renewable energy sources are also expected to come online, adding to the complexity, it said.
JICA conducted the study following the grid failure and countrywide power blackout on October 4, 2022.
It revealed the study findings during a workshop jointly organised by itself and the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
The workshop aimed to improve power quality by upgrading the nationwide power grid frequency.
Meanwhile, a committee constituted by the state-run Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB) immediately after the blackout pointed out the negligence of some PGCB officials as the cause of the multiple-hour blackout across the country.
Two PGCB officials—one assistant engineer and another sub assistant engineer—were suspended for their negligence.
These officials had allowed the transmission of electricity beyond the capacity of the Ghorashal substation, which led to its tripping and subsequently downed most of the power plants across the country, the PGCB report had maintained.
Almost all power plants across the country started tripping one after another following the national grid failure at 2:04 pm on October 4, 2022.
Electricity supply, however, started restoring in different parts of the country after the evening.
Senior Secretary of Power Division Md Habibur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Md Mahbubur Rahman, and Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh office Ichiguchi Tomohide attended the workshop, along with relevant officials from the government and development partners.
Azizjst@yahoo.com