Electricity production has resumed at the first unit of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Dinajpur following a six-day shutdown.
After successful repairs to a burst boiler pipe, the 125-megawatt unit began supplying power to the national grid on Friday night. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique confirmed that the unit was commissioned Friday afternoon, with 60 to 65 megawatts currently being integrated into the grid as of 8:30 pm.
The unit had been offline since April 25. While its return offers some relief to the regional power supply, the plant is still far from full capacity as the remaining two units remain closed.
Commissioned in 2006 to utilize coal from the adjacent Barapukuria mine, the 525 MW plant has struggled with frequent mechanical faults. Assistant Chief Engineer Mohsinul Firoz stated that overhauling is ongoing for the second and third units, with hopes to bring the 275 MW third unit back online by May 15.
The prolonged shutdown has created a secondary crisis: a massive surplus of coal. Since current policy dictates that Barapukuria coal can only be used by this specific plant, the extraction yard is now holding stock levels described by officials as "beyond the danger limit."
