Corruption has engulfed each and every arena of power and energy sector, says adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan and reveals the post-uprising interim government's stand on crosschecking quick-rental deals.
"Wherever I look, irregularities and corruption exposes," the adviser for power and energy, and road transport and bridges, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, told newsmen Wednesday after a meeting with top power and energy ministry officials at the Petrobangla headquarters in Dhaka.
He cautioned the officials against indulging in corruption and warned of stern actions against those who get involved in such misdeeds.
Mr Khan said from now on, the secretaries of power division and the energy and mineral resources division would be no longer chairman of state-run power and energy companies, unless unavoidable situation arises, to avoid contradictories.
He reminds that this interim government came in power with mandate after student-public movement and in no way would tolerate corruption and irregularities.
The boards of different state-run power and energy companies will be reconstituted incorporating students who will be vigilant and oversee the activities, Mr khan said.
The interim government will also form an independent committee headed a retired justice to review the projects and agreements inked under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act 2010 (Amended 2021), he said.
The interim government has already suspended special laws used by the previous government to accelerate deals and projects in the power and energy sectors bypassing competitive biddings, annulled the law cutting government authority to regulate natural gas and power tariffs avoiding stakeholders' opinion.
The suspension of the special law has put at risk several multibillion-dollar power and energy deals and projects that were in the pipeline, including proposed fossil fuel-and renewable energy-based power plants, liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals, long-term LNG deals, and petroleum-import contracts, and spot LNG- purchase modalities.
The people want that the country imports LNG and petroleum products at rational and reduced costs, said Mr Khan.
Regarding resumption of operation of Summit LNG Terminal, the adviser said a specific timeframe has been sought from the contractor to ensure coming back online of the FSRU. Summit has informed that the FSRU will come online within September 7-10.
The LNG terminal has been shut since May 30 after it was hit by a floating pontoon during the cyclone Remal mayhem.
Bangladesh's overall natural gas supply will increase after resumption of LNG re-gasification in Summit's FSRU, the adviser hopes.
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