Helping Smooth and Reliable Electricity Supply in Rural Bangladesh

DHAKA, June 21 (Xinhua) — Access to grid electricity in rural areas is rapidly increasing with more than 300,000 new connections every month in Bangladesh. However, rural households often suffer from power cuts due to electricity supply constraints, network congestion, and over-loading.

Through the Rural Electricity Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Project, the government is addressing the network congestion and over-load at the rural level. The project is helping the government to reduce system losses and improve the electricity distribution network in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet divisions.

 The T&D project is constructing new 33-11kV lines, 33/11 kV substations, river crossing towers, switching stations, and rehabilitating 33/11kV lines. The project will further support construction of 230-132 kV line and 132/33 kV substations. The project has already started procurement for line materials and supply and installation contracts. The project will help enhance the country’s distribution network capacity and make the electrical lines ready for carrying additional electricity.

 The project is progressing well according to a recent World Bank and government joint review. The Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the implementing agencies – Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) are putting their concerted efforts for success of the project. The World Bank is providing US$ 600 million for the project.