Adani shuts, Rooppur delays; power disruption may worsen in country

Electricity supply from Adani Group’s coal-fired power plant in India’s Jharkhand has once again been disrupted, raising concerns of increased load shedding across the country. 

One of the two units at the Godda-based plant has been shut down due to technical issues, though the first unit, which had been inactive since April 8, has resumed operations and is now supplying electricity.

ABM Badruddoza Khan, spokesperson of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), confirmed on Saturday evening that electricity supply had resumed from the first unit. The power plant has two units, each with a capacity of 800 megawatts. While the first unit was shut down on April 8, the second unit ceased operations in the early hours of April 11, resulting in a significant power shortfall.

At full capacity, the plant can supply up to 1,400 megawatts of electricity. Even after the shutdown on April 8, the plant was supplying over 750 megawatts. However, the second unit's unexpected shutdown has further strained the power supply.

A member (Generation) of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB), Mohammad Zahurul Islam, stated on Saturday that one of the grid lines was successfully reconnected at 6:15 PM on Saturdays. He also emphasized that the timeline for restarting the second unit depends entirely on Adani Group.

Ongoing disputes over coal prices used in the power plant and issues related to outstanding payments have also contributed to instability in electricity supply. Adani had previously halted power delivery due to unpaid dues, although one unit resumed generation once the PDB began making regular payments. In February, the PDB requested full capacity delivery, prompting Adani to start supplying power from both units from early March.

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant continues to face delays. The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh aims to complete the transmission line for the first unit by the end of April. However, it will take at least two more months to begin power generation following the completion of the line, with trial production possibly starting in July. Full commercial operation is not expected before next year.

Officials admit that the timeline for Rooppur’s electricity production has been postponed multiple times. The initial plan was to start generating power from the first unit by December 2023, which was later revised to December 2024, and now faces further delays. The second unit, originally scheduled for December 2024, has been pushed to 2025, and actual generation may not begin before 2027.

According to project authorities, a test using dummy fuel was conducted last September inside the reactor vessel. Actual fuel loading will only begin two months after the transmission line is ready. Fuel insertion takes about a month, followed by a gradual increase in power output along with various testing procedures. Thus, full-scale commercial production from Rooppur’s first unit may commence sometime next year, although no definitive timeline has been provided.

Project insiders cited numerous setbacks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and complications related to financial transactions, delays in equipment imports, expert arrivals, and payment challenges due to foreign currency shortages. These factors have contributed to prolonged delays. Additionally, the transmission line work has not been completed on schedule. As a result, in February of last year, the project deadline was officially extended by two years.

Project Director Mohammad Zahedul Hasan stated that once the transmission line is ready, two months will be required for initial testing at the plant, followed by a month of nuclear fuel loading. Power generation will then begin incrementally, with continuous testing throughout. However, he noted that it is still too early to confirm when commercial electricity supply will commence, as numerous tests and technical assessments remain pending.

With critical supply sources like Adani and Rooppur facing disruption and delay, concerns are growing that Bangladesh may face increased power shortages and extended load shedding, especially during the peak summer season.