Load shedding escalates in Dhaka and countrywide

Widespread load shedding has intensified across Bangladesh, including the capital, following a significant drop in power generation from coal-based plants. 

Despite Saturday being a weekend holiday, residents in Dhaka faced two to three rounds of power cuts by evening, with some areas experiencing up to four hours of outages due to a massive shortfall in the national grid.

According to the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the national electricity deficit exceeded 1,900 MW during the afternoon and early evening hours. 

Data shows that by 5:00 pm, national demand stood at 16,157 MW, while supply lagged at 14,273 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,884 MW. An hour earlier, at 4:00 pm, the shortfall was even higher at 1,935 MW. 

The crisis began escalating rapidly after noon. While the deficit was contained to 667 MW at 2:00 pm, it surged as the day progressed. The grid was also under severe strain overnight, with the deficit crossing the 2,000 MW mark between 2:00 am and 3:00 am. 

The primary cause of the disruption is a sharp decline in power generation from imported coal. Power Development Board (PDB) Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim confirmed that while gas supply remains available, coal-based electricity generation has severely underperformed. 

"Less electricity is coming from coal, including reduced supply from Adani. Furthermore, generation from the Noringko, Payra, and Matarbari centers in Patuakhali typically dips during the day," Karim said, adding that authorities have contacted Adani to urge an increase in production.

Data from grid sources highlights the severity of the coal plant underperformance. Adani’s power generation plummeted from 1,304 MW at midnight to just 955 MW by 1:00 am on Saturday, and hovered between 800 MW and 900 MW for the remainder of the day. 

Additionally, the Payra plant generated about 300 MW less than expected, while the Noringko and Matarbari plants contributed a combined 600 MW less than their capacity. 

The supply gap hit Dhaka's distribution networks hard. An official from the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) stated that their peak demand on Saturday was 2,333 MW, against a 250 MW deficit, forcing two to three rounds of load shedding. 

The situation was worse for consumers under the Dhaka Electricity Supply Company (DESCO). With a demand of roughly 1,500 MW and a deficit of 400 MW, DESCO had to enforce load shedding lasting at least four hours in several areas.

Energy sector insiders note a growing paradox in the country's power sector: while recent increases in domestic gas supply have boosted some generation, the grid remains highly vulnerable due to unreliable coal and fuel imports. Until coal-based generation stabilises, officials warn that managed load shedding will continue to disrupt daily life, regardless of the day of the week.