Govt expresses regret in parliament over nationwide load shedding

The government on Thursday (April 23) expressed regret in Parliament over the suffering caused to people due to ongoing nationwide load shedding amid intense heat, while announcing measures to ease the power crisis.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources State Minister Anindya Islam Amit said the government is “sincerely sorry” for the public inconvenience and acknowledged that citizens are facing hardship due to electricity shortages.

Speaking in the Jatiya Sangsad during the first session of the 13th Parliament, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the state minister said an experimental 110-megawatt load shedding plan has been introduced in Dhaka to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for irrigation in rural areas during the agricultural season.

He said the decision aims to prioritise farmers and ensure irrigation needs are met during the ongoing cropping period.

Explaining the situation, he said the country’s peak demand recently stood at around 16,000 megawatts, while generation reached about 14,126 megawatts, creating a shortfall of over 2,000 megawatts.

He added that the current crisis is not solely the responsibility of the present government, blaming long-standing inefficiencies and imbalances in the power sector. Despite higher installed capacity on paper, actual generation has lagged behind demand, he said.

On the gas supply situation, the state minister said daily demand is about 3,800 million cubic feet, while domestic production and imports together fall short, leaving a deficit of over 1,100 million cubic feet per day.

He also said that maintenance issues in a coal-based and an imported power plant have reduced supply, but both are expected to return to full operation within days, which could help reduce load shedding within a week.

The state minister assured lawmakers that the government is prioritising energy infrastructure upgrades under a 180-day action plan and is working to stabilise electricity and gas supply in the shortest possible time.

Addressing the House, he concluded by formally expressing the government’s regret over the public suffering and reiterated efforts to restore stable energy supply.