Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant Shutdown: Northern Region Electricity Crisis

Power generation at the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant has come to a total standstill following a mechanical failure in its final operational unit.

The shutdown has triggered a severe electricity crisis across eight districts in the northern region coinciding with a heatwave where temperatures have soared to $37°C$.

Boiler Failure Halts Production

On Wednesday night, Unit 1 (125 MW) was forced offline after a boiler pipe burst. Chief Engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique attributed the damage to stones mixed with the coal supply. Repair work is currently underway but officials estimate it will take four to five days to resume production.

With Unit 1 down, all three units of the 525 MW capacity plant are now inactive. Unit 2 has been non-functional since 2020 and Unit 3 has been offline since November 2024. Although the plant is a critical source for the northern grid has rarely reached full capacity due to persistent technical glitches and the alleged use of low-quality components.

Coal Mine Operations at Risk

The power plant’s closure has created a secondary crisis at the Barapukuria Coal Mine. As the plant is the mine's sole customer, coal stocks have reached a critical $550,000$ tons exceeding the storage yard's capacity. Managing Director Md. Shah Alam stated that with $2,700$ tons being extracted daily and company is now desperately seeking alternative storage space.

Public Suffering Mounts

The supply deficit has led to frequent load-shedding during the morning and late-night hours. Residents in the northern districts are facing extreme hardship as the lack of electricity makes the current heatwave unbearable. While some power is being diverted from the national grid, it remains insufficient to meet local demand.