Govt urged to make nat'l master plan for gas
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
FE Report
Being confused over the actual reserve of natural gas, business leaders have urged the government to make a national master plan against the backdrop of rapid depletion of gas, the lifeblood of the economy.
They also want the coal policy to be finalised as early as possible in order to ensure energy security in future.
The call came at a seminar on Natural Gas in Bangladesh: Demand and Supply Spectrum jointly organised by City Bank and Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Division Monday at a city hotel.
Speaking as the special guest at the seminar, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq said, "We are in confusion about actual statistics of the natural gas reserve. It needs to be made clear how long we can get gas so that we can make a plan for the future."
"The government should make a national master plan to overcome the gas crisis that already hit many industries," he said adding otherwise, the country's industrialisation will be impeded as industry consumes bulk of gas after power sector that consumes about 40 per cent.
"Without power and gas, nobody can think of economic growth of the country. So it is high time to make a plan to ensure energy security," the FBCCI chief said adding "a dark time shall prevail over the economy if we do not right now address the problem of shortage of natural gas."
Speaking as the chief guest Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohasin said, "Ironically the energy sector remained neglected for long for lack of proper data, though the natural gas is the lifeblood of the economy."
"We are making our best efforts to accelerate gas production. We should act as quickly as possible to increase the gas production rather than being myopic," he added.
He underscored the need for immediate finalisation of coal policy to make the coal a source of alternative energy against the backdrop of rapid depletion of gas.
Being confused over the actual reserve of natural gas, business leaders have urged the government to make a national master plan against the backdrop of rapid depletion of gas, the lifeblood of the economy.
They also want the coal policy to be finalised as early as possible in order to ensure energy security in future.
The call came at a seminar on Natural Gas in Bangladesh: Demand and Supply Spectrum jointly organised by City Bank and Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Division Monday at a city hotel.
Speaking as the special guest at the seminar, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq said, "We are in confusion about actual statistics of the natural gas reserve. It needs to be made clear how long we can get gas so that we can make a plan for the future."
"The government should make a national master plan to overcome the gas crisis that already hit many industries," he said adding otherwise, the country's industrialisation will be impeded as industry consumes bulk of gas after power sector that consumes about 40 per cent.
"Without power and gas, nobody can think of economic growth of the country. So it is high time to make a plan to ensure energy security," the FBCCI chief said adding "a dark time shall prevail over the economy if we do not right now address the problem of shortage of natural gas."
Speaking as the chief guest Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohasin said, "Ironically the energy sector remained neglected for long for lack of proper data, though the natural gas is the lifeblood of the economy."
"We are making our best efforts to accelerate gas production. We should act as quickly as possible to increase the gas production rather than being myopic," he added.
He underscored the need for immediate finalisation of coal policy to make the coal a source of alternative energy against the backdrop of rapid depletion of gas.