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Prime Minister (PM) Khaleda Zia Tuesday urged the top brass in the country's energy and power sectors to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to the export-oriented industrial units.
"Export-oriented industrial sector would be the top of the priority to get gas and electricity supplies to maintain their production," the PM was quoted as saying at a high level meeting to review the country's prevailing gas and power situation at her office.
To enhance gas supply the PM, who is also the Minister in-charge of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR), directed the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) to ensure that an additional 25 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas be added to the national grid by end of October from Maulavibazar gas field, meeting sources said.
An additional 20 mmcfd of gas should be supplied by December next by exploring new gas wells at Titas gas fields, the PM told the meeting held at her office in the afternoon.
On prevailing gas rationing, the PM directed reopening of Tongi 80mw power plant after the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
Gas supply to Palash urea fertiliser factory, which was scheduled for rationing, would, however, not be affected.
Khaleda Zia also directed the authorities to complete the Monohardi-Ashuganj gas pipeline immediately to improve supply situation in the capital.
During the meeting, the PM asked the Power Division to make emergency arrangements for installing five power plants having 50 mega-watt (mw) generation capacity each under the criteria of independent power producer (IPP).
"The barge mounted power plants - three of which would be gas-fired and remaining two of dual fuel - should be installed within six months to improve the country's total power generation capacity," she directed during the meeting.
The PM also directed the Power Division to repair the inoperative and aged power plants immediately to ensure enhanced power generation.
The concerned officials should also be concerned over the issue that the irrigation does not hamper in the upcoming dry season, Khaleda Zia was quoted as saying during the meeting.
State Minister of Power Division Iqbal Hasan Mahmood, EMRD Advisor Mahmudur Rahman, Chairman of the Power Development Board (PDB) ANH Akhter Hossain, secretaries of Power Division and EMRD were, among others, present at the meeting.
Earlier, the EMRD suspended gas supply to the recently installed Tongi power since Monday under the government's gas rationing drive to ensure smooth production in the industrial sectors.
The operation of the power plant was temporarily suspended in line with the recommendation of the five-member working committee that prepared an action plan on gas rationing Monday last.
The Prime Minister's office (PMO) formed the working committee last Thursday headed by secretary to the Power Division Nazrul Islam to prepare the action plan on gas rationing.
Petrobangla sources said, despite halting gas supply to Tongi power plant Tuesday's total gas consumption across the country was around 1500 mmcfd with a deficit of 100 mmcfd in demand.
On Tuesday two power plants - Ghorashal 210mw power plant and Haripur 360mw power plant -went out of operation at around 11 in the morning.
Both the plants, however, resumed operation in the evening.
According to official statement of the PDB, Tuesday's power generation across the country was around 3300mw against the demand of over 4000 mw.
BAPI hails govt decision
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) Tuesday welcomed the government decision to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to production-oriented industrial units by discontinuing gas supply to gas-based power plants.
In a press statement, BAPI said the decision will help play a constructive role in flourishing industrial growth and accelerate economic growth of the country.
The government has decided to suspend electricity generation at gas-fired Tongi power plant to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to industrial units of the country.
BAPI observed that in spite of being a temporary measure to overcome the prevailing gas crisis, the government decision will help continue production and export of manufacturing items.
The association said the ongoing gas crisis has threatened the country's potential pharmaceutical sector. "If the gas crisis continues, it would lead to the closure of pharmaceutical units resulting in fall in export and rise in joblessness hampering economic development of the country."
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