|
The crippling power situation of the country might suffer a fresh jolt as two of the units of Ashuganj Power Station (APS) having the capacity of 290 megawatt (mw) electricity are in precarious conditions.
The unit-4 of APS with 140mw capacity is operating with a serious risk of being exploded due to lack of overhauling during last 10 years.
The IHI contractors of Germany, Thursday informed the Power Development Board (PDB) about the precarious state of the power unit-4 while repairing the APS power unit-5 that tripped last August.
They also suggested discontinuation of the overhauling work of power unit-5 that has a capacity of producing 150mw electricity, as workers in the unit may be injured if the unit-4 explodes.
To investigate the claim, the PDB formed a nine-member probe body to investigate the vulnerability of the unit.
"We have assigned the committee to look into the viability of the claim, made by German contractors," the PDB Chairman ANM Rizwan Ahmed said while talking to the FE Thursday.
The committee will submit their report in this connection within seven days and the PDB will take act on the basis of its report, he added.
He said the contractors claimed that the power unit-4 might collapse any time, as its 'retainer ring' was not overhauled during the last ten years.
He, however, said that such 'retainer ring' should be overhauled at an interval of 12 to 18 months for ensuring its smooth functioning.
The power division is not in a position to maintain the equipment of the station due to scarcity of fund, he lamented.
Recently, the cash-starved PDB sought Tk 1.34 billion from the finance ministry for overhauling the country's ailing power stations, he added.
He also said that as per the contact signed with the government, the German contractors could not stop their work without any specific evidence of 'risk'.
|