The Barapukuria Coal-fired Thermal Power Plant in Dinajpur, which partially resumed power generation at one of its two 125MW units eight days ago, has shut down again due to an ongoing coal crisis.
The only active unit of the plant was closed at 3:05 pm on Tuesday after the coal stock finished, kicking up a number of problems, including power cuts and low voltage, in the region.
On August 20, the government partially resumed power generation at the plant to relieve the sufferings of the people of several northern districts during the Eid-ul-Azha, which was celebrated across the country last Wednesday.
Abdul Hakim Sarker, chief engineer of the 525MW plant, said all three units of the power plant might resume operation next month as the coal supply is supposed to resume from the Barapukuria coal mine between September 10 and 15.
The power plant was shut down on July 22 after at least 142,000 tons of coal from its stock disappeared.
The matter is currently being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the police.
With the supply suspended again, the northern districts including Rangpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, and Thakurgaon will now suffer unusual power cuts or low voltage problems until the problem is fixed.
