Barapukuria power plant in Bangladesh stopped due to lack of coal

• 6 years ago (2018-07-23)
• David Flin

Asia 892 Coal 296

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Power generation from the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant in Dinajpur, Bangladesh has been stopped for an indefinite period. Prior to the shutdown, the power plant was operating on stock coal supply which came to an end, causing the last unit to be shut down.

The Power Development Board (PDB), operators of the power plant, said that the plant had to be completely shut down because of the short supply of coal from the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL). BCMCL say that it will be another month before it can restore supplies of coal to the plant.

PDB officials said that they are increasing output at gas- and oil-based power plants to compensate for the shutdown.

Coal production from the Barapukuria coal mine was suspended under a programme to change the mine shaft. PDB said that it had been assured by BCMCL that coal supply would continue from reserved coal during the closure of the mine.

The Barapukuria power plant consists of three units, two of 125 MW, and Unit 3 has a capacity of 275 MW.

The mine shaft changing started on June 29, and is scheduled for completion at the end of August.