Generating electricity in Bangladesh uses a variety of fuels to meet the demands of our population. These statistics are as of June 2010.
Nearly 83% of the electricity is generated using natural gas. Electricity is generated using a variety of techniques including direct gas turbines, steam turbines and combined-cycle units.
Natural gas is one of the few natural resources in abundance in Bangladesh, so it has been the fuel most commonly favored. However, with the growing population, production of domestic natural gas has peaked. Future growth in natural gas generation will rely on imports via pipeline from our neighbors or shipping via Compressed natural gas tankers.
Oils, like Diesel fuel and furnace oil are the next most common, accounting for about 9% of the electricity production. Diesel plants are directly powered by internal combustion engines, while furnace oil plants are mostly steam turbine generators. While some oil is produced domestically, much must be imported to serve the country’s demands.
Coal accounts for a little more than 4% of Bangladesh’s electricity production. The coal is mined at the Barapukuria Coal Mine, which produces most of the nation’s coal. The coal-fired power plant at Barapukuria utilizes steam turbine technology to generate electricity.
The Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli river supplies the final 4% of the power for Bangladesh. It has five generators, two commissioned when the dam was built in 1962, with an additional three commissioned in the 1980′s.
Additional gas, furnace oil, diesel and coal power plants are planned for commissioning in the coming five years, increasing the electrical generation capacity by 11.6 gigawatt by 2015.
Included in this planning are 10 MW of solar generation capability and a 100 MW wind plant. These three plants are expected to be on line in the year 2012.
Currently no electricity is imported to Bangladesh. Future growth may require cross border power lines allowing electricity to be imported from our neighbors.