Bangladesh News

Gas connections to stalled industrial units within the next two months was put on the list of top priorities by the high-powered committee formed to recommend short-term solutions to the gas and power crisis in the port city.

At its first meeting held at Chittagong Circuit House yesterday, the committee also agreed to recommend expediting the forming of Karnaphuli Gas Company Ltd for better gas distribution in the region.

In the power sector, the committee would recommend increasing power generation through setting up a 50MW barge-mounted rental power plant and taking measures to increase 40MW of power at existing gas-run power plants. The committee hoped that another 50MW of power would be available from Kaptai Hydraulic Power Plant soon after the water level in the Kaptai is increased.

The committee would also recommend adopting a policy to encourage private investment for setting up merchant power plants in joint collaboration with the government.

On June 28, Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed at a regional dialogue in Chittagong declared to form the high-powered committee to overcome the gas and power crises in Chittagong.

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman who chaired the meeting told journalists following the meeting, “These are preliminary recommendations that would be finalised in another meeting in Dhaka”

The final recommendations would be placed before the chief adviser and the cabinet for approval at a meeting scheduled for August 13 in Chittagong.

The recommendations would be implemented soon after they are approved, Zillur added.

Dr M Tamim, special assistant to the CA on power, energy and mineral resources divisions, Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek, special assistant to the CA on social welfare, post and telecommunications ministries, Jalal Ahmed, chairman of Petrobangla, Manjur Alam, acting mayor of Chittagong City Corporation and Shah Muhammad Akhteruddin, chairman of Chittagong Development Authority attended the meeting among others.

Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said gas supply would increase in Chittagong by December this year as two wells at Bakhrabad Gas Fields are expected to start production by that time.

Dr M Tamim in his speech said measures would be taken to provide adequate gas connections to industrial units in Chittagong before September this year and restore normalcy in gas supply by March next year.

MA Malek suggested tax exemption for import and manufacturing of solar panels and energy saving bulbs to reduce the pressure on electricity.