Fuel Crisis Pushes Chattogram Power Plants Towards Shutdown

A severe fuel crisis is disrupting electricity generation across greater Chattogram, with six of the region’s 28 power plants already out of operation and several others running at sharply reduced capacity. The worsening situation has intensified load-shedding in both urban and rural areas, while industries are facing production losses despite official figures showing that electricity supply is broadly matching recorded demand.

According to the latest report of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, six power plants in Chattogram have stopped generating electricity. Production at a further group of plants has fallen to around one-third of their installed capacity, raising concerns that additional facilities could be forced to suspend operations if the fuel shortage continues.

The plants currently out of operation include the Hathazari power plant, Kaptai Solar with a capacity of 7.4 megawatts, Raozan-1 and Raozan-2, each with a capacity of 210 megawatts, Teknaf Solar with 20 megawatts, and United Power with 50 megawatts.

Several other plants are operating far below their potential because of inadequate fuel supplies. These include Anlima Energy Limited, with a capacity of 116 megawatts; Anwara United, 300 megawatts; Baraka, 50 megawatts; Baraka Karnaphuli; Julda-1; Julda-2; and Zodiac, with a capacity of 54 megawatts.

The power crisis is particularly severe in Chattogram city. Residents in areas including Patharghata, Askar Dighi Par, Halishahar, Kalurghat and Bayezid Bostami have reported frequent interruptions. In several neighbourhoods, electricity has reportedly remained unavailable for eight to 10 hours a day. With temperatures rising, households are struggling to cope with prolonged outages, while interruptions to water supply have added another layer of difficulty because many homes depend on electricity to receive water from the Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority system.

The situation is also affecting rural areas, where residents in several parts of Chattogram reportedly face eight to 10 hours of load-shedding during the day. In industrial zones, the consequences are more direct. Factories in and around Bayezid Bostami and other industrial areas have reported production cuts of up to 30 per cent. Even the use of generators has failed to provide a reliable solution because of the scale and duration of the disruptions.

There is a significant discrepancy between official power supply figures and the experience of consumers. According to the Power Development Board, peak-hour electricity demand in Chattogram is 1,068.79 megawatts, while supply is also recorded at the same level. During off-peak hours, demand is reported at 958.87 megawatts, with an equivalent level of supply. On paper, these figures indicate no shortage.

Consumers, however, say the reality is markedly different. On Wednesday, for example, the Kalpolok residential area experienced a power outage from 6.30am to 10am. Although official records reportedly showed zero megawatts of load-shedding, residents experienced a prolonged interruption. The actual shortfall, according to those familiar with the local situation, was more than 200 megawatts.

The fuel shortage has also severely affected Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited, or CUFL, whose production has remained suspended since 4 March. The fertiliser plant requires around 45 million cubic feet of gas per day to maintain production, but it has not been receiving sufficient supplies.

CUFL’s prolonged shutdown has created financial pressure on the state-owned fertiliser producer and uncertainty for more than 1,000 workers and employees associated with the plant. The facility was last in production on 3 March before the gas shortage forced it to shut down the following day.

CUFL Deputy Manager (Administration) Samiran Marma said gas shortages had prevented the plant from resuming production and that the required volume of gas was not available. He said the company was expected to receive gas supplies towards the end of August, potentially allowing production to restart.

The continuing disruption has placed Chattogram’s power and industrial sectors under mounting pressure. If adequate fuel supplies are not restored, the number of inactive power plants could rise, potentially worsening electricity shortages for households, businesses and industries across the region.