Bangladesh • Latest • Perspectives • Slide
Uninterrupted Power Supply Main Challenge
Engr. Md. Shafique Uddin
Managing Director, West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDC)
Our franchise area has many climate-vulnerable regions in the western part of Bangladesh. Consequently uninterrupted power supply during adverse weather and resuming power quickly after disruption is a major challenge for WZPDCL. The increase of technical capability of the network and developing competent human resources are the challenges. Our company could earn the reputation of the best power distribution utility of Bangladesh by this time.We are developing new power lines applying modern technology, setting up efficient sub-stations and upgrading the existing ones for enhancing technical capacity of the network. Initiative has also been launched for taking distribution lines underground in our franchise area in phases. For the Khulna region, Swedish company ABB has already completed feasibility study. Following the findings and recommendations, the implementation would start soon. Some Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are being established in our franchise area. There would be significant impetus of industrialization following opening of Padma multipurpose bridge. Keeping that situation in view, we have taken up long term plan for strengthening and modernizing our distribution system. We are already proceeding with establishing SCADA system for centralized control and monitoring of our operation. SCADA would be fully operational in 2021.Alongside technical capacity enhancement, creation of competent human resource is also a huge challenge. We are trying to grow expertise within our humble resources. We expect that Power Division would assist us with more required foreign training. During the early days of WZPDCL, users had serious complaints about power supply and frequent loadshedding. That situation no longer exists. We are continuously endeavoring for improving customer services. Power division is working with a plan for bring all users under prepaid metering system. WZPDCL is not outside of it. We have already installed 60,000 prepaid meters. For meeting the future needs, we have taken up initiative for setting up an industry for producing pre-paid meters in Bangladesh in joint venture with a Chinese company Hexing. The physical construction would start soon.The mission of WZPDCL is earning customer satisfaction. With that end in view we have taken initiative for setting up customer care center. We will be able to provide better customer services this summer than previous years.
This article has been printed under a syndication arrangement with Energy and Power