Kaptai hydropower generation tops 200MW as lake water level rises

Electricity generation at the Kaptai Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant has exceeded 200 megawatts as the water level of Kaptai Lake continues to rise following 11 consecutive days of heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff.

The lake’s water level crossed 100 feet mean sea level on Monday morning, boosting electricity generation at the country’s only hydropower plant.

Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant Managing Engineer Mahmud Hasan said the water level at Kaptai Lake stood at 100.60 feet mean sea level at 9:00am on Monday, up from 99.15 feet recorded on Sunday night.

He said the plant generated 206MW of electricity from its five generating units by 9:00am on Monday, the highest output recorded this year.

According to Hasan, power generation had remained above 200MW until November last year but dropped below that level from December due to a decline in the lake’s water level.

Control room officials said four units�"Units 1, 3, 4 and 5�"are each producing 40MW, while Unit 2 is generating 46MW. The combined installed generation capacity of the plant’s five units is 240MW.