105 MW Noapara power plant on verge of closure
The 105 MW power plant of Quantum Power System Ltd at Noapara in
Jessore industrial town is on the verge of closure, mainly due to
furnace oil crisis.
Over the last one year, the plant has added only 6MW power to the
national grid daily.
But the authorities claimed per day production 10-12 MW.
Although they refer to the crisis of furnace oil as the reason, old
machinery and equipment are also responsible for the shortfall in the
plant’s electricity production.
There are allegations that the authorities are playing hide and seek
with facts and figures of the electricity production to cover up their
failure.
As a result, they are failing to resolve the load shading crisis too.
And because of frequent power cuts, many of the mills and factories in
the industrial area are about to shut their production.
Otobi Ltd. set up Quantum Power System Ltd at Taltola in Noapara in
2010 with a production capacity of 105mw.
But it failed to fulfill the production target for being operated with
old equipment and machinery.
The plant has so far supplied highest 35MW to 40 MW power daily to the
national grid.
In the last one year, its production has come down to 6-7MW.
It is feared that the power plant might be closed down at any time.
In the last one year, incidents like mysterious theft and fire also
took place at the plant.
Manager of Otobi Ltd. Kabir Ahmed said for lack of supply of furnace
oil, nine engines of the plant went out of order. Only one engine is
now operative.
He said although the plant was targeted for producing 105 MW power, it
now produces 10-15MW daily.
On the other hand, United Group’s 40 MW Khaja Khanjahan Ali Power
Plant closes down frequently.
This power plant started production on May 12, 2011 and supplied
electricity to the national grid.
Oil consumption in the plant per 24 ours is 200 to 250 tonnes.
On this basis, 2500 tonnes of furnace oil are kept reserved for every 10 days.
This is far less than the requirement.
Jessore Palli Biduit Samity-2 zonal office deputy managing director
Shajahan Kabir said the electricity demand in the peak hours in
Noapara and Narail is 43MW but they are getting only 25MW.
Sources at the upazila Department of Agriculture Extension said during
the current season, Aman cultivation was targeted at about 8,000
hectares of land.
Due to shortage of electricity, not only production of paddy is being
hampered, but the mills and factories are also facing difficulties in
their operation.
Noapara Market Owners Association general secretary Jahangir Alam said
due to frequent load shading, industrial units here cannot continue
production smoothly.
Consequently, the cost of production is increasing. -UNB, Jessore, Noapara
