PM’s adviser seeks DCs’ help to raise power supply

The prime minister’s energy affairs adviser has sought the cooperation of the deputy commissioners to ensure uninterrupted power supply and implement the proposed power projects.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 July 2014, 05:41 PM
Updated : 10 July 2014, 05:41 PM

Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury addressed the working session on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Minerals Resources on the closing day of the conference of DCs on Thursday.

He said, “Power situation is far better than it was in previous years. The government has a plan to ensure access to electricity to all by 2021."

"We have planned to set up coal-based power plants from Chittagong to Khulna to generate thousands of megawatts and to build a deep-sea port.

“For that we are asking for DCs assistance in procurement of land and other issues.”

Replying to a question on extraction of locally available coal, the adviser said that government planned to extract coal from the northern side of the Barapukuria coal mine through opencast mining.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu echoed the adviser. “A water management model is being prepared in the northern side of Barapukuria coal mine for open-pit mining.

"Once it’s completed we will set up a 1300 megawatt power plant in five years.”

The junior minister said advice of DCs and divisional commissioners was sought to provide uninterrupted power supply.