The Chattogram electricity crisis of 2026 worsened on April 18th as 10 of the 28 plants were taken offline; this resulted in widespread load shedding in the city and affected the daily activities of many residents.
This situation is part of a much larger nationwide power crisis that has been caused by increased fuel prices, worldwide supply problems, and other technical issues.
Shutdown of Chattogram Power Plants Too Much to Handle
The shutdown of the Chattogram plants has brought down the generating capacity of the grid to its maximum. Some examples of large plants that are not currently operating include:
- Enlima: 116 MW
- Zodiac: 54 MW
- Juldha 2: 100 MW
- Juldha 3: 100 MW
- Rauzan: Both 210 MW turbines are offline.
Issues with Partial Generation:
- Kaptai Hydropower Plant is currently operating only 2 of its 5 units.
- Matarbari Coal Power Plant is also producing an inconsistent amount of energy.
Currently, the city relies on Banskhali Substation, Shikalbaha Plant, and the BSRM Power Plant in Mirsarai.
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Fuel Supply Crisis in Bangladesh: Causes of Failure
The fuel supply crisis is responsible for the current energy shortfall.
- Due to the fuel shortage caused by the current Chattogram Port diesel shortage, power plants cannot receive their fuel supply.
- There is also a backlog in the delivery of fuel because of delays in fuel ship unloading at Chattogram Port.
- Additionally, existing tensions around Iran have caused disruptions in the global transportation of LNG and oil.
These issues have further compounded the energy constraints on Bangladesh from the Middle East.
Technical Issues Contributing to the Bangladesh Energy Crisis
On top of the issues caused by fuel supply shortages, there are multiple technical constraints that exacerbate the energy crisis in Bangladesh.
These include:
- Lower gas pressure results in reduced efficiency at power plants.
- Ageing infrastructure at major power plants, such as the one at Rauzan.
- Instability of the power grid due to variations in power generation.
These various issues demonstrate the inherent structural weaknesses of the current power system.
Load-Shedding in Chattogram: Daily Life Disrupted
Residents of Chattogram and businesses in the city are bearing the brunt of the current load shedding situation:
- Long cuts: Many areas in Chattogram are being subjected to power outages lasting many hours. The areas of Chawkbazar, Agrabad and Halishahar (amongst others) are all experiencing long cuts.
- Water shortages: Chattogram WASA is having extreme difficulty operating its pumps due to the ongoing load shedding.
- Business losses: Many of the city’s small industries continue to incur losses from increased costs associated with the purchase of fuels to run generators.
The combination of all of these events is creating an escalating urban crisis that is affecting both fundamental service delivery and economic activity within the city.
Official Response and Outlook
According to statements from the Power Development Board (PDB), the load shedding situation will continue to fluctuate on an ongoing basis, depending on the availability of fuel and the stability of the electric grid.
While there may be short-term relief for the current situation due to the arrival of ongoing shipments of fuel, experts have indicated that, without stable supply chain infrastructure and improvements to electricity infrastructure, the electricity crisis will continue to exist in Chattogram.
Chattogram is Under Strain
As indicated by the current power crisis facing Chattogram, the very cooperative relationships of fuel supply, global geopolitics, and infrastructure resiliency are all interconnected factors. Viable power plants have gone offline, and demand for power in the city continues to grow. Chattogram is in the process of entering a challenging period.
Ensuring that a consistent source of fuel supply is made available to all electricity providers in Chattogram and continuing to modernise energy supply systems will be critical in curtailing the effects of future disruptions affecting one of Bangladesh’s leading commercial cities.
