Power crisis to ease by May
The government has projected that Bangladesh’s ongoing electricity shortage will begin to ease by May, as authorities move to boost fuel supply and increase generation capacity, officials said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Energy Ministry spokesperson and Joint Secretary Umme Rehana said the current power deficit has been driven largely by disruptions in imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, which in turn has affected electricity production across the country.
She linked the disruption to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, saying that constraints in fuel movement through the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to reduced LNG availability in the international market, forcing Bangladesh to rely more heavily on costly spot-market purchases.
As a result, the country has been unable to secure adequate gas supplies to run power plants at full capacity, leading to load shedding in several regions.
Officials noted that peak demand recently reached around 15,767 megawatts, while generation stood at about 13,681 megawatts, creating a shortfall of nearly 3,000 megawatts.
The ministry said efforts are underway to narrow the gap, including additional generation expected to come online in early May, which could add roughly 2,000 megawatts to the national grid.
Authorities believe this would significantly reduce load shedding pressures.
Rehana added that electricity distribution is being prioritized for critical sectors such as agriculture and industry, while urban centers like Dhaka have been relatively shielded compared to rural areas where most scheduled outages are occurring.
She also highlighted the country’s energy mix, noting that natural gas remains the largest source of electricity at 43 percent, followed by coal, imported power, diesel, and a small share from hydro and renewables.
However, she said limited domestic gas supply remains a structural constraint, preventing cheaper and more stable generation.
Despite the current strain, officials expressed optimism that improved fuel supply arrangements and increased generation in the coming weeks will help stabilize the power system and gradually reduce outages.
