Barapukuria power plant shuts down again after 15 hours of operation

Power generation at the Barapukuria thermal power plant in Dinajpur has been halted again due to a mechanical fault. The plant shut down just 15 hours after it was brought back online. Two officials of the plant, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the media that production stopped around 11:00 am on Saturday, April 25, after a boiler tube ruptured in the first unit. They said repairs could take four to five days.

Earlier, on Wednesday night at 10:02 pm, production had stopped after two of the four coal mills in the first unit broke down. The plant resumed operations after repairs on Friday at 8:07 pm, generating 55 megawatts of electricity for the national grid. However, production ground to a halt again just 15 hours later.

Two of the plant's three units were already shut down. With the only operational unit now also closed, electricity production at the plant has come to a complete halt. The plant plays a crucial role in controlling load shedding and low voltage in the northern districts.

According to plant sources, the three units have a total production capacity of 525 megawatts. The first and second units are capable of producing 125 megawatts each, while the third unit has a capacity of 275 megawatts. The second unit has been shut down since November 2020 due to mechanical faults, and the third unit has been closed since November 1 last year. As a result, production at the plant had long been reliant on just a single unit.

However, the plant's chief engineer shared some positive news. He said the 275-megawatt third unit will be operational by the 15th of next month. Meanwhile, discussions with a Chinese company regarding the resumption of the second unit, which is at the ministry level, are ongoing. A four-member committee has also been formed for this purpose. The initial estimated cost to bring this unit online is 23 million US dollars, though the final figure may fluctuate after further negotiations with the Chinese company.