Large swathes of Bangladesh have been left without electricity after a partial grid failure, a government official says, adding that authorities are working to gradually restore power supply in the country of 168 million people.
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The country's power grid malfunctioned at 2pm on Tuesday, leading to blackouts across 75-80 per cent of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Power Development Board official Shameem Hasan told Reuters.
"We are trying to restore the system," Hasan said, adding that utilities were currently producing about 4500 megawatts (MW) of power, compared to countrywide demand of 14,200 MW.
An investigation is underway to ascertain the reason for the grid's collapse, Hasan said.
Bangladesh peak power demand on Tuesday was 3 per cent higher than the 13,800 MW forecast earlier this week by the Bangladesh Power Development Board, according to government data.
"Hopefully within three hours, power supply will be restored in Dhaka," Junior Power Minister Nasrul Hamid said, referring to Bangladesh's capital city that is home to about 20 million people.
Many parts of Bangladesh have been facing frequent power cuts this year despite efforts to ration gas supplies amid high global natural gas prices.
Natural gas accounts for nearly three quarters of the country's power generation.
More than a third of the 77 gas-powered units in Bangladesh were facing a gas shortage, government data showed on Tuesday.
Power demand growth in Bangladesh in recent years has largely been driven by the residential segment, compared with industries.
Australian Associated Press
