Bhola’s electricity system, which has been under pressure due to the prolonged shutdown of a key local power plant, is expected to receive relief soon as authorities move to bring the 34.5-megawatt gas-fired facility back into operation.
The Kheyaghat-based plant in Bhola Sadar, originally commissioned in 2009, has remained offline since 2025 due to a combination of expired contractual arrangements, technical failures, and unresolved gas payment issues. The relevant sources confirmed on Saturday that generation will resume once outstanding dues are settled and gas supply is restored.
Built at an estimated cost of Tk1.5 billion, the plant initially generated 34.5MW of electricity, later upgraded to 40MW, and had long been a major contributor to the district’s power supply. Its shutdown followed a major gas turbine breakdown in 2024, after which only limited backup generation was possible before full closure.
The suspension of operations created additional pressure on Bhola’s distribution network, forcing authorities to rely on electricity transmitted from a 250MW plant in Borhanuddin Upazila, located about 35 kilometres away.
Officials and local residents said this arrangement has been vulnerable to weather disruptions, particularly during storms and heavy rainfall, affecting households, businesses and public services.
According to company officials, contractual complications between Venture Energy Resources Limited and the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL), along with unpaid bills involving gas supply authorities, contributed to the prolonged shutdown. The plant’s operator says discussions are ongoing with relevant agencies to resolve financial and operational issues.
WZPDCL officials said alternative supply arrangements are currently being used but acknowledged that long-distance transmission has increased stress on the grid. They added that efforts are underway to stabilise the system.
Local representatives, including political and district-level officials, have indicated that longer-term plans are being considered to expand electricity generation in Bhola using its natural gas resources, with proposals for additional capacity in the hundreds of megawatts.
Authorities expressed hope that the plant’s resumption would help ease the ongoing electricity strain and improve reliability in the district’s power supply network.
