Saving energy

On the National Energy Security Day on August 09, prime minister`s  adviser Dr. Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said the government was considering enactment of a law to legally compel consumers to save energy by ensuring its prudent use to cope  with the yawning demand-supply gap.

The National Energy Security Day has been being observed for the last several years to celebrate the purchase of five gas fields from the Shell oil company at a nominal price on August 09, 1975 by the then government of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. State Minister for Energy Nasrul Hamid also spoke on the occasion. He stated that the country required efficient geologists, miners, engineers and researchers in the energy sector. Nobody questions this. But is there any proper attempt or sincerity to put a right person in the right place? Immediately after the liberation the government of Bangabandhu appointed secretaries for different ministries with due importance attached to professionalism.

The PM's adviser referred to a research paper by a Nobel Prize winner. In the paper it has been mentioned that prudent energy use by effective devices could save one-third of the power used by households and industries. "Save energy"-this slogan is buzzing around the world. Enough emphasis is now laid on alternative energy sources. Traditional sources of energy like natural gas, coal and crude oil are heading towards extinction. Several countries, including Bangladesh, are exploring the possibility of nuclear energy despite the health and life risks. The adviser said that after several years of relaxation now it was time to force the consumers to save energy through a legal process.

The question is: Did the people ask for this relaxation?  Let us take the example of domestic gas supplies. The authority did not or could not impose any control on it. They either had no expertise to do so or failed to realise the consequences of such irresponsible deeds. If the authorities can do it, the people will welcome it. At one stage the nation was told that the country had been floating on natural gas and the mandarins of the energy sector thought of exporting it to India. To date, gas   supply to the northern part of the country could not be ensured and Rangpur division is totally outside the supply network.

The figure on the gas reserve in the country is nebulous. The sooner the efficient use is ensured, the better for all. Fuel consumption should be efficiently managed, particularly by the government and its agencies. The incumbent finance minister observed in parliament twice that austerity and belt-tightening should be followed, but there has not been the minimum response from parliament. Profligacy is inextricably linked with the government's expenses. Continuous addition of gargantuan fuel-consuming vehicles to the government's fleet causes squandering of public money.

The government has to pay heavy subsidies for import of fuel. During the last fiscal, the state-owned commercial banks had to issue bank guarantees amounting to Tk 351.48 billion on fuel and Tk 109.63 billion on power. The people have allowed the government enough respite. It is now time that strict rules were framed and followed to stop abuse and misuse of fuel by the government machinery. The road network has improved tremendously. Almost all upazilas are connected with Dhaka city by coaches and other modes of transports. There is no reason to allow government officials to come to Dhaka city by any departmental transport. Public representatives should also have to be brought under the same rules. Actually a thorough survey should be conducted to ascertain the amount of money spent by the government agencies for consumption of fuel. If austerity measures are taken, definitely a big amount of money can be saved and that can be used for development work. Indiscriminate and irresponsible purchase of transports must be stopped.

The PM's Adviser has called for prudent use of energy. An end to use of CNG by private cars should also be considered as one of the measures aimed at the implementation of the policy on efficient utilisation of energy.

rezaulparvaz@live.com