Jumbangla Desk: India's Adani Power on Thursday night cut power supply to Bangladesh by half from its Jharkhand power plant. According to the import data of Power Grid Bangladesh, Adani owes a huge amount of bills to the government.

Adani

Adani Power had announced a few weeks ago that it would cut off electricity supply to Bangladesh from October 31 if the outstanding bills were not paid. According to PDB sources, the other unit of Adani's 1,496 MW power plant in Jharkhand is currently generating about 700 MW of electricity as one unit stopped production on Thursday.

As a result, there was a power shortage of more than 1,600 megawatts in the country last night. On Friday (November 1), the power deficit was 933 MW.

According to media reports, Adani Power owes Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) more than $800 million in electricity bills for eight to nine months.

At the end of August, the chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, was the chief adviser to the interim government. Muhammad asked Yunus to intervene in paying this debt.

In a letter on August 27, Adani stated, 'We are keeping our promise to Bangladesh. But lenders are now putting pressure on us. I seek your assistance in securing the early payment of $800 million owed to the Bangladesh Power Development Board.'

Besides, Adani Power also sent a letter to PDB in late August asking for payment of outstanding bills. In the letter, PDB was informed that if the dues are not paid by October 30, Adani will be forced to stop power supply as per the purchase agreement from October 31.

PDB had planned to open a letter of credit (LC) through Bangladesh Krishi Bank by October 30 to clear the arrears, PDB-sources said. However, as the said LC could not be opened, PDB sought more time for payment. However, Secretary of Electricity Department Farzana Mumtaz told the media that the issue has been resolved.

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"We have spoken to Adani. An LC has been opened. Still not getting electricity as required, but there is no problem with import or payment of dues,' he said.