Rural power supply to see facelift

The government is going to spend a whopping Tk 61.79 billion to strengthen the rural electricity distribution network in Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions to meet the increased demand for power alongside ensuring reliable and sustainable supply.

A project titled “BREB’s Power Distribution System Modernisation and Capacity Enhancement (Dhaka-Mymensingh)” has been proposed to the Planning Commission in this regard, official sources said.

Load on existing rural distribution system is rising day by day with the increase in commercial and industrial customers as the number of industries and business institutions are on the rise in rural areas.

Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) has been working relentlessly to ensure electricity to every rural household in all the districts except for three hilly districts.

As part of the initiative, the rural electrification board has proposed the power distribution capacity enhancement project for Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions to meet the growing demand for power in the areas.

Once the project is implemented, it will be possible to cut system loss and ensure reliable, quality and uninterrupted power supply to 17.8 million customers of 25 Palli Bidyut Samities under the divisions.

The main objective of the proposed project is to meet the increased demand for 2,220MVA electricity by enhancing the capacity of the rural power distribution system.

It also eyes to cut system loss by 0.5 percentage points and lower the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) from 1272 minutes/per customer to 935 minutes/per customer.

“Capacity of the rural distribution system in Dhaka and Mymensingh division will increase by 2,220MVA once the project is implemented,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan.

“It will also help provide low-cost, dependable and quality power supply to 17.8 million customers in rural areas, which will help improve the socio-economic life of those areas,” he added.

Out of the Tk 61.79 billion proposed project cost, the World Bank will provide Tk 42.58 billion in loans while the implementing agency will provide Tk 6.62 billion.The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) of the Planning Commission has recommended the project for placing it at the next ECNEC meeting for final approval.

After the ECNEC clearance, BREB will implement the project by March 2027.

The main project components include the construction of 107 33/11KV substations, 57 33/11KV substation augmentation, 6,400km new overhead and underground line apart from enhancing the capacity of existing 6,000km, establishing 6,500km insulated conductors, transforming 6,000km LT lines to HT lines as well as 7,000om HT single-phase lines to three-phase, construction of 14-set river crossing towers, installing one set SCADA system, four sets of energy storage system, 6350 set fault locator and one switching station, among others.