Biz-friendly policy aid sought

Domestic LPG autogas station owners have demanded business-friendly policy support for expanding the autogas industry as a green fuel.
The Bangladesh LPG Autogas Station Owners Association has urged the government to review 7.5-per cent value-added tax (VAT) on autogas to help promote eco-friendly fuel like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
"Despite natural gas shortages in our country, it's being used as compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation, which has no economic role," said Mohammad Serajul Mawla, president of the association.
"Using LPG in the transport sector is on the one hand environment friendly while it is possible to reduce the wastage of natural gas and for value addition to industry," he told an international seminar in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Currently, LPG is used as fuel in around 0.1-million private cars, microbuses and three-wheelers across the country.
"Government and private-sector initiatives are needed to establish LPG autogas as an environment-friendly fuel. For this, the autogas association wants to work together with the government," said Mr Mawla.
There are 800 autogas stations in the country that consume around 12,000 tonnes of LPG annually.
An additional 200 new stations are under construction, according to the trade body. The sector has already fetched investments worth Tk 10 billion, disclosed Mr Mawla.
World LPG Association managing director James Rockall, director David Taylor and Bangladesh Autogas Association secretary general Hasin Parvez and Omera Petroleum CEO Tanzeem Chowdhdury, among others, also spoke.

azizjst@yahoo.com