Rampal Power Plant Unit 2 Closure Triggers Power Drop and Load Shedding
Unit 2 of the Rampal Thermal Power Plant has shut down due to mechanical and technical faults, cutting power generation in half and increasing load shedding across the country. Indian expert engineers are expected to arrive to complete boiler repairs, while domestic engineers have already begun preliminary work.
The Rampal Thermal Power Plant has experienced a significant disruption in its operations following the shutdown of its Unit 2 due to mechanical and technical faults. This sudden closure has severely impacted the facility's power generation capacity, causing output to drop by half and triggering increased load shedding across national grid areas and regions overseen by the West Zone Power Distribution Company, known as Ozeppadiko.
Addressing the technical failure, Anwarul Azim provided details regarding the ongoing repair efforts and the involvement of specialist personnel. According to the statements, domestic engineers have already initiated preliminary work on the damaged boiler. However, the completion of the repair work depends on the arrival of Indian expert engineers, who were scheduled to travel to the site.
Regarding the timeline for restoring full operational capacity, Anwarul Azim noted that the closed unit is currently undergoing a "cool down" process to reduce temperatures safely before major interventions can begin. Officials estimate that it will take at least another three to four days for the power plant to return to one hundred percent normal electricity production.
Despite the ongoing domestic efforts to address the mechanical and technical faults, logistical delays have impacted the repair schedule. Although two expert engineers from India were scheduled to come and assist with the technical overhaul of the boiler, they had not yet arrived by Wednesday afternoon.
The suspension of operations at Unit 2 highlights the vulnerability of major power generation facilities to technical malfunctions and underscores the reliance on specialized foreign expertise for critical repairs. Authorities continue to monitor the "cool down" procedures closely while managing the resulting power shortages and load shedding across the affected regions of Bagerhat, Khulna, and Barishal until full generation capacity can be safely restored.
