The coal-fired Payra Power Plant in Bagerhat, with a capacity of 1,320MW, has temporarily halted operations due to a lack of coal.

One of the plant's two 660MW units stopped functioning at 12 noon on Monday (June 5).

The second unit has been offline since May 25.

The power plant's closure may result in increased load shedding in the northern region of the country, including Patuakhali.

The two units of the Payra power plant required around 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes of coal to run at full capacity. Bangladesh-China Power Company (PVT) Limited – the owner of the plant, has been importing coal from Indonesia since its inception in 2018.

However, due to the dollar crisis, Bangladesh-China Power Company (PVT) Limited owes $390 million to the suppliers as coal import bills till April.

As the bills have become overdue, the suppliers are refusing to supply more coal to the Bangladesh-China Power Company (PVT) Limited, which has ended up with a plant shutdown.

On June 3, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid announced the suspension of the power plant's operations due to insufficient coal supplies.

BDST: 1427 HRS, JUN 05, 2023
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