The severe cyclone ‘Remal’ has caused financial losses worth around Tk 1.08 billion to the power infrastructure in the southern districts of the country, initial estimation by state-run power entities suggested Tuesday.
Some 17.31 million consumers in the region – 36.83 per cent of the total – were without power until Tuesday night, while the rest including those in the capital witnessed frequent disruptions, official sources said.
Of the total losses, Tk 1.03 billion was estimated for the franchise of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and Tk 50.78 million in the West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL) areas.
Of the total consumers, who are yet to get power supply restored, 17.17 million are under the BREB jurisdiction and the remaining 144,628 under the WZPDCL.
The cyclone has severely affected power transmission and distribution systems particularly under the BREB franchise.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) on Tuesday, the power connections were either fully or partially disrupted in 65 out of 80 Palli Bidyut Samitees (PBSs).
The ministry said power supply to 80 per cent of the affected consumers has already been restored by Tuesday night.
Sufferings of the remaining 20 per cent consumers would be mitigated through providing door-to-door services and repairing damaged electric meters, said the statement.
More than 30,000 BREB employees are in the field to restore the power supply system in its jurisdiction across the country.
Employees of the other state-run entities are also working at the directives of the Power Division to improve the power supply situation.
The overall electricity generation that dipped to around 3,700 MW on Monday was gradually improving across the country, officials said.
People across the country are still bearing the brunt of acute load-shedding, while businesses and commercial operations also faced disruptions in most parts of the country, according to sources.
