Gas Crisis Triggers Frequent Power Cuts at Chattogram Airport

Frequent load-shedding has been disrupting parts of Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram as a shortage of gas reduces electricity generation across the country. Despite the airport having two emergency feeder connections from the Power Development Board, shortages in the national grid mean the facility cannot be kept completely outside the load-shedding schedule.

Airport officials said electricity is currently going off at least 10 to 12 times a day. The repeated interruptions have affected some routine activities at the airport and prompted complaints from passengers on social media, particularly when power cuts occur at night.

However, officials said the disruptions have not affected aircraft take-offs, landings or other critical operational activities. The airport has backup arrangements to maintain essential services when the main power supply is interrupted.

When electricity from the national grid fails, the airport switches to its own generators. But the generators require around 30 to 40 seconds to start and stabilise the power supply. During this brief interval, parts of the airport can be left in darkness, a problem that becomes more noticeable after sunset.

Critical equipment used for aviation operations has separate uninterruptible power supply systems. These provide immediate backup and help ensure that essential operational systems remain functional during the transition from the national grid to generator power.

The airport’s public relations officer, engineer Ibrahim Khalil, told Dhaka Post that the facility has two emergency lines supplied by the Power Development Board. Even with those connections, however, power failures occur when there is insufficient electricity available in the national grid.

He said the main difficulty is with lighting rather than aviation operations. The airport’s operational equipment has separate backup arrangements, meaning there has been no significant disruption to aircraft movement or other essential aviation-related activities.

The power shortages are closely linked to a wider gas supply crisis affecting Chattogram. Officials said reduced gas availability has forced several gas-fired power plants to cut production, putting additional pressure on the national electricity grid.

Chattogram normally requires around 350 million cubic feet of gas a day for its regular activities. But on some days, supply has reportedly fallen to between 180 million and 190 million cubic feet. The sharp shortfall has affected several sectors, including power generation, industry, residential consumers and compressed natural gas stations.

The situation has also been linked to supply conditions at the floating liquefied natural gas terminals in Maheshkhali. On 19 August, reports emerged that gas supply through a pipeline from Excelerate Energy’s terminal had been suspended amid a shortage of LNG cargo. The interruption further reduced gas availability in the national system and added pressure to gas-dependent power generation.

The consequences have been visible beyond the airport. Various parts of Chattogram have experienced longer or more frequent power cuts in recent weeks as reduced gas supplies limit electricity generation. At the same time, households, factories and CNG stations have faced the wider effects of the gas shortage.

For an international airport, even short power interruptions can be highly visible, particularly in passenger areas and other public spaces. The 30 to 40-second gap before generator power becomes available therefore creates a noticeable inconvenience, especially during night-time outages.

Airport officials, however, maintain that the existing backup systems are sufficient to protect the core functions of the facility. The immediate concern is the disruption to lighting and routine services, rather than the safety or continuity of aircraft operations.

As the wider electricity situation remains dependent on adequate gas supplies and national grid capacity, the frequency of interruptions at the airport is likely to remain tied to developments in Chattogram’s gas and power supply situation.