Depz Power Outage: 30pc of factories yet to resume production

Staff Reporter :

Production activities in 30 percent of factories at the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) were suspended after Titas Gas authorities abruptly cut off gas supply to United Power on Monday, citing unpaid dues and giving no prior notice.

DEPZ Executive Director Shariful Islam confirmed the development to the media on Tuesday.”On Monday at around 1pm, gas supply to the power plant of United Power Generation and Distribution Company Limited the electricity provider for DEPZ was disconnected without any prior notice over outstanding payments.

As a result, the entire zone lost power, forcing all industrial units to shut down operations and send workers home,” he said.
According to sources, the power outage began around noon on Monday and led to widespread disruption in production activities.

Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman Laskar, Senior General Manager of Palli Bidyut Samiti-1, said, “After United Power’s supply was cut off in the afternoon, we managed to provide 10 megawatts of electricity in the evening to meet essential needs such as security and residential services. From 9:30am today, we are supplying an additional 25 megawatts, bringing the total to 35 megawatts.”

He added, “We are currently supplying electricity from the Kabirpur grid, which has two substations serving the EPZ. If United Power fails to resume supply again, we are making arrangements to ensure uninterrupted electricity. Necessary facilities are already in place at DEPZ, so there should be no major issues.”

Meanwhile, Abu Saleh Muhammad Khademuddin, Executive Engineer and Manager of Titas Gas’s Ashulia Regional Office, stated that the gas disconnection was due to unpaid bills. “This decision came from higher government authorities,” he added.