How Summit Power is dealing with the pandemic

Local power producer Summit Power Limited has taken measures recently to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping up the best interests of its investors and employees.

The publicly listed company has shared its updates and activities with The Business Standard through a statement.

Summit Power has arranged appropriate accommodation facilities in its power plant premises for its employees who are essential to power generation. Currently, the employees are residing in the premises during the lockdown.

The company has also arranged personal protective suits, masks and all the sanitisation agents for all the essential-to-operation employees.

The employees are working in shifts at a safe distance from each other and anyone with symptoms is given paid leaves and health insurance.

"Therefore, we feel that we are fully prepared to generate power as per the demand," an official of the company said.

The Chairman of Summit Group Muhammed Aziz Khan said the company will continue to pay full salary, wages and benefits to all its employees.

Summit Power has not been directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic yet and all the power plants of the company are operational as of now, said Swapon Kumar Pal, the company secretary.

As the company's income against the power plants' capacity utilisation is being taken care of by the government, the company does not fear any major disruption in revenue.

"As per requirements from Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), we are generating power," Pal added.

On the other hand, due to the ongoing shutdown, the demand from the industrial consumers has substantially reduced.

Bangladesh is approaching the peak season for domestic electricity consumption due to hot weather and the month of Ramadan when retail sales are traditionally the highest in Bangladesh.

In the regulatory environment, the government is trying to cope with the impacts of the coronavirus. It has declared business-friendly policies.

Summit Group has made substantial contributions to corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

"Summit has supported Bangladesh's international airports by providing seven world-class thermal scanners for measuring temperature of crowds," said Pal.

Summit Group has also contributed Tk3 crore to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Along with China Merchant Ports Group, Summit has donated 50,000 masks and 2,000 protective suits for medical professionals.

In addition, the group has provided more than Tk60 lakh to poor children in rural schools, physically challenged children in urban slums and to a friendship hospital that supports hard-to-reach areas of rural Bangladesh.

"We have a plan to continue our support in the coming days," added Pal.