Parties urged to give top priority to energy in election manifestos

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FE Report
Experts said Saturday that the political parties should lay emphasis on coal, atomic and renewable energy for augmenting power in the wake acute shortage of electricity in the country.
The speakers including politicians, academics, experts and leaders of labour unions were discussing at a roundtable meeting on energy sector in the election manifestos, organised by Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) held at the National Press Club on the day.
They also said without developing the power sector, the next government will face a major challenge to sustain the industrial growth.
"Resolving energy crisis will be the major challenge for the next elected government. If they fail to resolve the energy crisis, it'll be difficult for them to survive in power," said BUET professor Dr Ijaz Hossain.
Faruk Khan, a senior Awami League (AL) leader said his party had already finalised its election manifesto giving highest priority to energy.
He hinted that AL wants to add at least 5,000 megawatt in the national grid if they came to power after December polls.
"We have a plan to generate 5,000-MW electricity in next 5 years if we come to power in the coming election. Every year, we'll add 1000 megawatt to the national grid," he said
The AL leader also said they will review all policies relating to exploration of gas and generation of power to overcome controversies on those.
He said AL would prepare a vision statement to ensure electricity for all by 2021.
About coal extraction for meeting energy needs, Faruk said the coal sector would be developed by protecting the environment.
BNP senior leader Gayeswar Chandra Roy said power and energy policies were developed by bureaucrats earlier and there is now need for involvement of politicians.
"Politicians should play a vital role in formulating power and energy policies to make it more transparent," BNP leader added.
It is very unfortunate that the energy sector fell in serious crisis within few days after the BNP government had left office, he lamented.
"We don't know why such a grim situation arose when the caretaker government is running the country," he told the energy reporters.
Workers Party president Rashed Khan Mennon said country's natural resources have to be protected from the hands of "foreign merchants".
He suggested that the state-owned exploration agency BAPEX should be strengthened to conduct petroleum- exploration work "on our own", instead of contracting out the hydrocarbon mines to international oil companies.
President of the BNP labour front Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Zafrul Hasan said energy sector is a very sensitive sector and political parties always try to avoid such sensitive issue.
"That's why the energy and power sector sometimes fail to get proper attention of the political parties," said the trade unionist.
Gas Transmission Company Managing Director Monjur Morshed, however, viewed that the country does not have enough funds for conducting exploration works with the BAPEX.
Because, he observed, exploration works involve high business risks which local banks cannot afford. "So, local banks do not feel interested to invest in the energy-exploration sector."