Bangladesh: Electricity Distribution Modernization (Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions) Project

proposed

Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), one of the major state-owned entities in the energy sector in Bangladesh, is responsible for extending electricity distribution services to the rural areas of the country. The entity, through its 80 “Palli Bidyut Samities” (PBSs) (i.e., rural electricity clusters) organized under eight divisions, collectively serves more than 75 percent of the country's electricity consumers. Out of 80 PBSs, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions have 19 PBSs that provide services to around 9.2 million consumers (including industrial and commercial users). In 2022, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) announced the policy goal of universal access to electricity in the country. Since then, electricity demand for both domestic and industrial sectors have been on the rise. Chattogram and Sylhet divisions have developed socio-economically at an accelerated pace in the last 15 years. GoB has targeted developing multiple mega infrastructure projects in the Chattogram division and is expanding industrial opportunities in the Sylhet division. BREB anticipates an increase in consumer demand for reliable electricity supply in these two divisions. To (i) meet the expected additional demand, (ii) decongest the network, and (iii) reduce the distribution losses, BREB has initiated this project to increase the capacity of and modernize the distribution network. The following activities are planned in the project scope: Installation and augmentation of 33/11 kilovolt (kV) substations with a total capacity of approximately 2,062 megavolt-amperes (MVA); Construction and modernization of around 30,000 kilometers (km) of 33/11 kV distribution lines; and Installation of River-crossing Towers, Switching Stations, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System, and Fault Locators in selected areas.