As temperatures continue to rise, electricity demand is surging across Bangladesh, leading to power outages nationwide. However, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, assured that load-shedding will remain at a manageable level.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Pathways to Overcoming the Energy Crisis,” organized by the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) at Bijoy Hall in the Power Building on Saturday (April 26), the energy advisor emphasized the government’s efforts.

He said, “We intend to keep load-shedding limited during the summer. Our projections target around 18,000 megawatts, and we hope to manage the situation effectively. Load-shedding will be kept at a tolerable level.”

The advisor added that there will be no distinction between rural and urban electricity supply this time. Highlighting the interim government’s priorities, he mentioned that clearing outstanding energy bills had been crucial to ensuring energy imports and stable electricity supply.

Fauzul Kabir also stated that system losses must be reduced by 50% within the next two months, noting that repairs are underway to address line leaks and gas theft. Additionally, the government has decided to import LNG through public-private partnerships.

Addressing the media, he urged journalists to report responsibly. “Some reports suggest severe load-shedding, but the highest recorded load-shedding so far was only 139 megawatts on April 24,” he explained. “Many disruptions occur due to transformer failures that take time to repair, which should not be mistaken for load-shedding.”