Industrial energy supply barriers to be addressed

The government has moved to remove the constraints that stand in the way of supplying electricity and natural gas to the industries, thus ramping up factory output.

A committee comprising representatives of both the public and private sector, which is headed by chairman of state-run Bangladesh Energy & Power Research Council, will resolve the issue.

State minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid disclosed this while addressing the closing ceremony of a workshop on resolving the power and energy sector problems at Bidyut Bhaban in the city on Saturday.

The committee will recommend an action plan to the energy ministry to ensure that each of the industrial unit gets uninterrupted energy, he said.

Representatives of different trade bodies including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association narrated their sufferings worsened by inadequate supply of energy at the workshop.

They identified unexpected delay in getting natural gas connection, fluctuations in gas pressure, non-supply of electronic gas volume corrector, frequent hike in tariff and the absence of uninterrupted supply of energy as key barriers facing the industries.

Mr Hamid urged the business people to set up their industries in planned areas like those in economic zones to ensure obtaining uninterrupted electricity supply. He also sought their cooperation in realising unpaid bills and cut illegal connections.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Prime Minister's energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury urged the industry owners to install energy-efficient equipment to ensure better output.

Presided over by chairman of the Council Subir Kishor, the workshop was addressed among others by power secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, energy secretary Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, National Board of Revenue chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Sirazul Islam and top officials of the energy ministry.

[email protected]