Prime minister’s energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said curbing the difference between peak and off-peak load is one of the major challenges for the government, otherwise it may cause higher expenses for the power sector.
“If the difference of peak and off-peak load soars, our spending will shoot up accordingly,” he said.
The adviser was addressing a program held for his reception by the Power Division at the Bidyut Bhaban on Tuesday.
Tawfiq, also a former bureaucrat, was reappointed as the adviser on Sunday, eight says after the Awami League formed its new government after the landslide win in the December 30 polls.
According to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the forecast demand for power during peak and off-peak hours was estimated at 10,631MW and 11747MW for Tuesday.
Crediting the previous government, also led by the Awami League, for ‘proving electricity to every household’, Tawfiq said: “It (power coverage) was a massive achievement for the (last) government.”
Currently, 90% of the population has access to electricity, with power sector high-ups hoping the entire country to come under electricity coverage by this year.
Tawfiq also opined that the sector must adopt an updated and timely communication strategy to help register an even better growth.
Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, BPDB Chairman Khaled Mahmood and BERC Chairman Major General (retd) Moin Uddin, among others, attended the event.
