Bangladesh Power Crisis Forces Businesses to Cut Production

A severe power crisis is affecting businesses in Bangladesh, particularly those that rely on gas and electricity to operate. Factories producing garments, food, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals are cutting production, changing work schedules, and turning to alternative energy sources due to the ongoing gas and power shortages.

Asif Ibrahim, vice chairman of Newage Group, said the company has been adjusting its production schedule according to electricity availability and trying to cut unnecessary use of electricity. The company has also expanded its rooftop solar capacity, which now supplies about 25 percent of its electricity needs.

PRAN-RFL Group, another major manufacturer, is using LPG where it can and running some production lines while keeping others closed due to low gas pressure. The group currently generates around 35-38 megawatts of renewable energy for its own use but plans to eventually meet all of its electricity needs from solar power.

The crisis has been dragging on for over a month since a floating LNG terminal went offline, leaving industrial areas with lower gas pressure and triggering widespread power outages. Manufacturers are struggling to pass the extra costs of unreliable energy supplies onto foreign buyers or local customers, leading to reduced profit margins and potential losses.