The government has decided to coordinate loadshedding in Dhaka and other major cities to reduce prolonged power outages in rural areas, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday.
He said electricity saved through loadshedding in areas under the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) is being redistributed to rural areas and other parts of the country based on demand.
The adviser made the remarks at the government’s weekly briefing at the Department of Information.
“Previously, relatively uninterrupted power was supplied to the capital and major cities, while rural and remote areas bore the brunt of loadshedding. The current government has decided to move away from that approach and share the burden of the crisis more evenly,” he said.
He said demand for electricity remains high in major cities because of their economic activity. Nevertheless, power is being redistributed on the prime minister’s instructions to reduce prolonged and frequent outages in rural areas.
Zahed Ur Rahman attributed the current power shortage to the energy crisis, sudden mechanical failures at power plants, maintenance work, limitations in the transmission grid and rapidly rising demand.
“As a result of coordinated loadshedding in areas under DPDC and Desco in Dhaka, power supply to industries and important consumer groups outside the capital is improving. At the same time, the pressure of prolonged outages in rural areas is being reduced to some extent,” he said.
“We are in a crisis. Everyone will have to bear the brunt of it to some extent. However, we do not think this hardship will last long,” the adviser said.
He also clarified the finance minister’s recent statement that it could take two years to fully resolve the country’s power and energy crisis.
“This does not mean the current level of loadshedding will continue for two years. If the recent mechanical and energy supply problems are resolved, the situation will return to its previous level within a relatively short time,” he said.
However, he said ensuring a reliable long-term power and energy supply would require new LNG infrastructure, domestic gas exploration and expanded power generation capacity.
Noting that establishing new floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) would also take time, he said: “If these projects are implemented, LNG import capacity will increase.”
Zahed Ur Rahman also highlighted the geopolitical situation in the Middle East as a major risk to energy security.
LNG prices have already risen significantly in the international market, he said, warning that a further deterioration of the situation could make it difficult for the government to manage the energy crisis.