Advisers for consensus on exploration of coal
Sunday, 16 December 2007
FE Report
Government advisers Saturday called for reaching a consensus on coal exploration and help the administration in taking a decision on the best possible use of the hydrocarbon in the country.
Finance and planning adviser Mirza Azizul Islam and energy adviser Tapan Chowdhury made the appeal at a seminar, participated by the country's business leaders of northern districts.
"If you have a consensus on exploration of the country's coal, it will be easier for the government to ensure its best use," Azizul Islam told the seminar.
The seminar on "Development of the greater Rangpur: context of energy" was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city. Nazrul Islam, former executive chairman of the Board of Investment and president of the Greater Rangpur Welfare Association was in the chair.
The Greater Rangpur Welfare Association, Dhaka, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kurigram Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce & Industry jointly organised the seminar.
Tapan Chowdhury urged the people and the groups, who are opposing exploration of coal exploration, to reach a consensus and said there will be no option but to utilise coal for power generation as the country's gas reserve will start falling from the year 2011.
He said an independent coal policy review committee has already finalised the draft policy. "I personally do not have involvement in finalising the policy. The committee has done its job independently."
Reacting to the criticism by some people, who blamed the government for awarding exploration licence to a particular foreign company, Tapan Chowdhury stated that the government formed the independent review committee to finalise the draft policy in order to ensure proper use of the hydrocarbon resource in the best interest of the nation.
He regretted that some people and groups always created obstacle to implementation of programmes, which are undertaken for the development of the north and northwestern regions.
Citing the problem created over gas exploration in Mobarakpur, Chowdhury claimed that some vested quarters blocked the hydrocarbon exploration activities there.
Now the energy division has taken steps to explore gas there, he said adding: "The Chief Adviser has instructed us to give special priority to exploration of hydrocarbon in the underdeveloped northern and northwestern regions and setting up new power plants there for eliminating regional disparity."
Mirza Aziz said: "The shortfall of power is the biggest impediment to the country's development. Besides, we have so far failed to utilise our natural resources, including gas and coal, for generating power properly."
"All of you know how the government is facing obstacles in exploration of coal. If we fail to utilise our valuable natural resources we will not be able to boost the country's economic development," he said.
He urged the energy adviser to find out potential hydrocarbon reserves in the northern districts saying the government will provide necessary support to such exploration for the development of the deprived northern region.
Assuring the gathering, the finance adviser said the government is trying to reduce the regional disparity by taking some special measures.
"A committee, headed by the planning secretary, has prepared a policy paper and recommended some suggestions for eliminating the regional inequality. We will try to adopt the recommendations," the finance adviser said.
Besides, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its last meeting asked all the ministries to incorporate recommendations on how the new development projects will help reduce the regional disparity, he said.
Government advisers Saturday called for reaching a consensus on coal exploration and help the administration in taking a decision on the best possible use of the hydrocarbon in the country.
Finance and planning adviser Mirza Azizul Islam and energy adviser Tapan Chowdhury made the appeal at a seminar, participated by the country's business leaders of northern districts.
"If you have a consensus on exploration of the country's coal, it will be easier for the government to ensure its best use," Azizul Islam told the seminar.
The seminar on "Development of the greater Rangpur: context of energy" was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city. Nazrul Islam, former executive chairman of the Board of Investment and president of the Greater Rangpur Welfare Association was in the chair.
The Greater Rangpur Welfare Association, Dhaka, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kurigram Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce & Industry jointly organised the seminar.
Tapan Chowdhury urged the people and the groups, who are opposing exploration of coal exploration, to reach a consensus and said there will be no option but to utilise coal for power generation as the country's gas reserve will start falling from the year 2011.
He said an independent coal policy review committee has already finalised the draft policy. "I personally do not have involvement in finalising the policy. The committee has done its job independently."
Reacting to the criticism by some people, who blamed the government for awarding exploration licence to a particular foreign company, Tapan Chowdhury stated that the government formed the independent review committee to finalise the draft policy in order to ensure proper use of the hydrocarbon resource in the best interest of the nation.
He regretted that some people and groups always created obstacle to implementation of programmes, which are undertaken for the development of the north and northwestern regions.
Citing the problem created over gas exploration in Mobarakpur, Chowdhury claimed that some vested quarters blocked the hydrocarbon exploration activities there.
Now the energy division has taken steps to explore gas there, he said adding: "The Chief Adviser has instructed us to give special priority to exploration of hydrocarbon in the underdeveloped northern and northwestern regions and setting up new power plants there for eliminating regional disparity."
Mirza Aziz said: "The shortfall of power is the biggest impediment to the country's development. Besides, we have so far failed to utilise our natural resources, including gas and coal, for generating power properly."
"All of you know how the government is facing obstacles in exploration of coal. If we fail to utilise our valuable natural resources we will not be able to boost the country's economic development," he said.
He urged the energy adviser to find out potential hydrocarbon reserves in the northern districts saying the government will provide necessary support to such exploration for the development of the deprived northern region.
Assuring the gathering, the finance adviser said the government is trying to reduce the regional disparity by taking some special measures.
"A committee, headed by the planning secretary, has prepared a policy paper and recommended some suggestions for eliminating the regional inequality. We will try to adopt the recommendations," the finance adviser said.
Besides, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its last meeting asked all the ministries to incorporate recommendations on how the new development projects will help reduce the regional disparity, he said.