Cash-strapped Bangladesh shut down its largest power plant on Monday because it could not afford coal, after a sweltering heat wave spurred demand for electricity.
Cash-strapped Bangladesh shut down its largest power plant on Monday because it could not afford coal, after a sweltering heat wave spurred demand for electricity.
Shah Abdul Mawla, director of the 1,320-megawatt government-run Baira plant in southern Bangladesh, said he cut production last month due to fuel shortages, but had to take other steps on Monday.
“Because of the lack of coal, the station completely stopped at 12:15 this afternoon,” Mawla said, adding that he hoped production would resume within three weeks upon the arrival of coal shipments.
Bangladesh is seeking to face the depreciation of its currency, as its foreign currency reserves declined from $46 billion in January 2022 to $30 billion at the end of April 2023.
The official inflation rate is 9.9 percent, but independent economists say the real figure is much higher.
Bangladesh has faced power outages in the country of up to five hours a day in recent weeks while experiencing a heat wave, which has increased demand for energy.
The temperature in Bangladesh rose to 41.1 degrees Celsius on Monday, and the government decided to close primary schools until Thursday to combat the heat.
