Electricity generation at the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant has ground to a complete halt after its sole operational unit developed a mechanical fault, plunging eight districts in the northern region into a severe power crisis.
The 125MW Unit-1 was forced to shut down at 10pm on 22 April, leading to a total production collapse at the facility located in Parbatipur, Dinajpur. Consequently, eight districts in the northern region, including Dinajpur, are facing significant power disruptions.
Abu Bakkar Siddique, chief engineer of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant, confirmed the situation, stating that stones mixed with the coal supply caused a boiler pipe to burst and a cooling fan to break.
He noted that repair work is currently underway and estimated it would take four to five days to resume production.
The power plant’s other two units have been out of service for an extended period. The 275MW Unit-3 has been shut down since 1 November 2024 due to mechanical issues, while the 125MW Unit-2 has remained inactive since November 2020.
Unit-1 had previously shut down on 30 December last year, returning to operation on 14 January after 15 days of repairs. After running at a limited capacity for several months, it has now failed again.
Established in 2006 near the Barapukuria coal mine, the plant originally consisted of two 125MW units.
A third 275MW unit was added in 2017, bringing the total installed capacity to 525MW. However, the plant has never been able to generate its full capacity of 525MW simultaneously due to mechanical faults and various complications.
The shutdown has caused immense suffering for the residents of the northern region. Although power is being supplied from the national grid, it is failing to meet local demand.
This shortage coincides with a week-long heatwave, with temperatures ranging between 35°C and 37°C. Residents are facing frequent power outages throughout the day, including at dawn and late at night.
