Editorial
Poor gas and power supply in Chittagong
There is a need for long-term measures
POOR gas supply in Chittagong is beginning to have an adverse effect on lives. Obviously, it has had ramifications in the power sector, to a point where a couple of power plants have remained inoperational. As if that were not enough of a problem, there has been a considerable degree of fall in the water level of Kaptai Lake, which has in turn led to a decline in power generation at the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric Power plant. And that is not all. In recent times, a number of technical problems relating to gas supply have arisen at four of the five units at Raozan and Shikalbaha plants. There is too the tripping of a 40MW capacity unit at the Karnaphuli plant.
Obviously, there is cause for some very real concern here. Where the matter is one of a fall in the water level at Kaptai, especially during this season, it has always been an annual affair. The question, though, is why measures to keep the supply of power and gas flowing, knowing that such a problem is a regular happening, have not quite been in place. It has become something of a ritual for us to speak of the problem every year without seeing any concrete steps to tide over the issue being taken. What that does to as important a place as Chittagong can only be imagined. As the leading port city of the country, Chittagong is intricately involved with trade and commerce and indeed serves as the nation's economic lifeline. Given such realities, it is not quite understandable why power plants should keep tripping and why low water level in a lake should be cited as reasons to explain an annual crisis. There are certain moves we know as contingent measures. And there is such a thing as long-term planning.
We are informed that one of the two 28MW units at the Shikalbaha barge-mounted plant went out of order four years ago. And what has been done about getting it back in working order? These and other questions call for answers. What is clear, though, is that we cannot have such a vital sector working on a piecemeal basis. Systems that are always losing nuts and bolts are deeply flawed, risky ones.
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