Coal policy must look at public interests: PM
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
FE Report
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Tuesday her government would prioritise public interests and environment before it adopts the much-debated coal policy.
"We shouldn't be impatient. We'll have to scrutinise every aspect of coal extraction," she said while addressing the budget session in the parliament.
Whichever method is employed, the Prime Minister said population density, agriculture lands, people's housing and environment would be taken into account while extracting coal resources.
She also told the House the government has already taken steps to install coal-based power plants in Chittagong and Khulna and import coal as part of diversifying fuel sources needed to boost electricity generation.
Sheikh Hasina said efforts have been made to minimise the power crisis within the shortest possible time.
"We're working hard and are confident to end the power crisis in near future," she told lawmakers.
The Prime Minister said that more than 1,120 megawatt of electricity would be added to the national grid by December and that the present power generation has increased to 5,520 MW.
"In total, in the first two years of our government, some 1,700 MW of electricity is going to be added to the national grid," she said.
Criticising the last BNP-Jamaat government for not taking any step to explore gas, the Prime Minister said her government is going to buy three-dimensional rig to explore gas in its own effort.
Already two companies have been given charge of searching for gas in the sea while various measures are being taken to further strengthen Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company Limited (BAPEX), she said.
Additional gas resource has been discovered in Bibiana while 356 kms of gas pipelines will be set up to supply gas to the country's western areas, the Prime Minister told the House.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Tuesday her government would prioritise public interests and environment before it adopts the much-debated coal policy.
"We shouldn't be impatient. We'll have to scrutinise every aspect of coal extraction," she said while addressing the budget session in the parliament.
Whichever method is employed, the Prime Minister said population density, agriculture lands, people's housing and environment would be taken into account while extracting coal resources.
She also told the House the government has already taken steps to install coal-based power plants in Chittagong and Khulna and import coal as part of diversifying fuel sources needed to boost electricity generation.
Sheikh Hasina said efforts have been made to minimise the power crisis within the shortest possible time.
"We're working hard and are confident to end the power crisis in near future," she told lawmakers.
The Prime Minister said that more than 1,120 megawatt of electricity would be added to the national grid by December and that the present power generation has increased to 5,520 MW.
"In total, in the first two years of our government, some 1,700 MW of electricity is going to be added to the national grid," she said.
Criticising the last BNP-Jamaat government for not taking any step to explore gas, the Prime Minister said her government is going to buy three-dimensional rig to explore gas in its own effort.
Already two companies have been given charge of searching for gas in the sea while various measures are being taken to further strengthen Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company Limited (BAPEX), she said.
Additional gas resource has been discovered in Bibiana while 356 kms of gas pipelines will be set up to supply gas to the country's western areas, the Prime Minister told the House.