Power generation saw a new record, 4,148MW, on Friday against the demand for 4,550MW, thanks to an increased gas supply to power plants at appropriate pressure.

The generation however fell to 3,845MW yesterday against a demand for 4,600MW as erratic gas pressure tripped the Tongi 80MW power plant and reduced generation elsewhere. Tongi plant resumed generation yesterday evening.

During the last caretaker government's tenure, Power Development Board (PDB) had achieved another power generation record, 4,130MW in October, 2007, with improved gas supply at good pressure.

Due to inadequate supply of gas and low gas pressure, many power plants of the PDB cannot produce power at their optimum level and some remain idle.

As a result, the PDB could not produce 500-800MW of power despite having the capability.

Against the PDB's demand for around 800 million cubic feet of gas a day, Petrobangla has been supplying between 550 and 650 million cubic feet of gas a day.

Petrobangla suffers from poor gas production, gas supply line and a perennial problem of fluctuating gas pressure.

This situation however slightly improved late March when US oil company Chevron commissioned a "spur line" in Jalalabad Gas Field to boost production by around 50 million cubic feet a day. This increased from March 30 the country's total gas output to 1,850 million cubic feet a day against a demand of 2,000 million.

This enhanced production was supplied for power generation. In addition, the government decided to shut down the gas-fired Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Factory (CUFL) and re-route this gas to power plants.

All this helped Petrobangla's gas supply to power plants, increasing it to 750 million cubic feet a day till Thursday. On Friday, this supply reached 800 million cubic feet but it dropped to less than 750 million cubic feet yesterday.

"One of the major issue is that in the last several years the authorities erratically gave new gas connections in different places. This has now caused instability in the gas supply pressure. The only way to improve this is to install gas compressors in vital gas transmission lines," said a PDB high official.

Gas pressure remains a major issue in power generation in Chittagong, Mymensingh and Haripur.

Due to improved gas pressure and supply in Chittagong Friday, which was possible since many industries remained shut during the weekend, the 420MW Raozan power plant produced 310MW. This plant has been producing only 80-120MW for the last seven-eight months. It produced 200MW yesterday.

LINK by The daily star