Production has completely stopped at Barapukuria Coal-fired Thermal Power Plant in Dinajpur after a boiler tube in Unit-1 burst on Sunday morning.
The mechanical fault was confirmed by the plant’s chief engineer, Abu Bakr Siddique, later that night.
The 125-megawatt Unit-1 immediately halted operations following the sudden tube rupture.
With the only functional unit now inactive, the plant is unable to supply electricity to the national grid. The boiler’s internal temperature reaches nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius, and engineers are awaiting it to cool before commencing repairs.
Officials estimate that even under normal conditions, restoring Unit-1 will take at least a week.
Unit-2 has been non-functional since November 2020 due to mechanical faults and extensive repair costs.
Its reactivation remains pending the ministry’s final decision. Meanwhile, the 275-megawatt Unit-3 has been out of operation since 1 November last year due to mechanical problems.
Authorities are hopeful it will resume production by March once the necessary components arrive from China.
With all three units now inactive, the plant’s shutdown could put additional strain on electricity supply in the northern region and across the national grid.
Technical teams are working to restore Unit-1 to full operations at the earliest possible time.
