Load shedding exceeded 400MW on Wednesday, despite maximum use of oil-based power generation capacity, after a unit of the Adani power plant in India tripped, marking a sudden drop in the power supply.
The Godda-based coal-fired Adani power told the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh that the tripping was owed to a technical glitch on Tuesday, which coincided with Bangladesh recording the highest electricity demand so far this year 鈥�15,500MW.
Power demand is expected to rise drastically as Bangladesh returns to business as usual after a prolonged Eid holiday with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department downgrading its rainfall forecast over the next few days.
The day temperature increased by more than half a degree on Wednesday, compared with the day before as the day got drier than expected with huge deviation from forecasted precipitation.
鈥楾he low pressure supposed to bring the rain has weakened and is taking the course more inclined towards Myanmar,鈥� said meteorologist Shahnaj Sultana of the BMD.
Parts of Rangpur division and north-west Bangladesh is set to witness rainfall close to the prediction until April 12 but the central and south-eastern region will remain drier than expected, according to the meteorologist.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh鈥檚 highest day temperature of 37C was recorded in Feni district and Srimangal uapzila of Moulvibazar. On the day, a heatwave swept over the two districts along with Baghabari, Rangamati, Chattogram and Patuakhali.
鈥楶ower demand is rapidly rising,鈥� said BM Mizanum Hasaan, chief engineer, PGCB, adding that the unit of the 1,496MW Adani power plant that went out of order was likely to resume operation on Friday.
At 1:00am Wednesday, the PGCB recorded 432MW of load shedding, the highest so far, after generating 14,048MW against the demand of 14,500MW.
Oil-based power plants accounted for 2,849MW of electricity generated at 1:00am with gas accounting for 5,226MW, coal 4,217MW and Adani 761MW.
Oil-based power generation reached 3,913MW at 7:30pm on April 8 hours after the unit at the Adani power plant shut down.
Oil-based power generation is expensive and it reaching close to 4,000MW does not happen often.
On April 30 last year, the day Bangladesh generated its highest ever power of 16,477MW, oil accounted for the generation of 4,333MW. The electricity demand on the day was 17,000MW.
Last April witnessed a punishing summer visited by the longest-ever heatwave with temperature frequently exceeded 40C simultaneously across numerous districts, including Dhaka, which saw the highest temperature in 58 years on April 14.
April is the hottest month when day temperature is likely to drastically rise, pushing the power demand, mainly for cooling.
The peak electricity demand is expected to reach 18,000MW soon.