Next govt's efforts indispensable to resolve multiple problems: H Zillur
Monday, 29 December 2008
FE Report
Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Sunday said that concerted efforts of the next government is indispensable to resolve the multifaceted problems plaguing the country.
"We have thousands of problems. But in order to resolve all these, strenuous efforts from the government side is a must upon their detection," he said while speaking at a deal signing ceremony for setting up a 50 megawatt (MW) rental power plant at Shikalbaha in Chittagong.
The agreement, seemingly the last such deal of the caretaker government with only a day left for the ninth general election, was signed between the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) and the Energies Power Corporation Ltd, a joint venture of Royce Power Engineering of Hong Kong and the Asian Entech Power Corporation of Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Hossain, who heads a committee to resolve the energy crisis in the port city, said the inclusion of the rental power plant is an important step towards mitigating energy crisis in Chittagong.
He also praised the power ministry for augmenting electricity generation by 1200 megawatt (MW) in the last two years.
Country's total electricity generation was around 2700 MW during February 2007, a month after taking office of the caretaker government, which rose to 3900 MW as of Saturday December 27, 2008, power ministry said.
Chief Adviser's special assistant professor M Tamim said the caretaker government did not get its deserving appreciation for its success in enhancing electricity generation.
"Out of the six rental power plants the caretaker government approved, three of them have already initiated electricity generation," he said.
Tariff rates of these plants are higher as these have been taken on urgent basis for short-term. But the cost of not supplying electricity is much higher, professor M Tamim added.
This short-term supply source has created a breathing space to facilitate initiation of electricity generation from several large power plants, he said.
He hoped that the country would start getting benefit out of these new power plants before the onslaught of the next summer.
Professor M Tamim, who is also an energy expert, stressed that the country's large coal resources should be utilised for power generation to meet the country's future energy security.
The next elected government should take necessary steps to overcome the primary energy crisis, he added.
Power secretary Dr Fauzul Kabir Khan said that some 1000 MW of additional electricity would be added to the national grid by next summer.
"The power sector won't face acute crisis for the next one or two years," he hoped.
The caretaker government will issue tender notice within the next few days to facilitate installation of large power plants, he added.
Power ministry officials said the Shikalbaha 50 MW rental plant would be furnace-oil based and initiate electricity generation within six months of signing the agreement.
The PDB will purchase electricity rate at 12.8 US cents per unit (1,000 kilowatt per hour) or Tk 8.77 per unit from the plant.
Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Sunday said that concerted efforts of the next government is indispensable to resolve the multifaceted problems plaguing the country.
"We have thousands of problems. But in order to resolve all these, strenuous efforts from the government side is a must upon their detection," he said while speaking at a deal signing ceremony for setting up a 50 megawatt (MW) rental power plant at Shikalbaha in Chittagong.
The agreement, seemingly the last such deal of the caretaker government with only a day left for the ninth general election, was signed between the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) and the Energies Power Corporation Ltd, a joint venture of Royce Power Engineering of Hong Kong and the Asian Entech Power Corporation of Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Hossain, who heads a committee to resolve the energy crisis in the port city, said the inclusion of the rental power plant is an important step towards mitigating energy crisis in Chittagong.
He also praised the power ministry for augmenting electricity generation by 1200 megawatt (MW) in the last two years.
Country's total electricity generation was around 2700 MW during February 2007, a month after taking office of the caretaker government, which rose to 3900 MW as of Saturday December 27, 2008, power ministry said.
Chief Adviser's special assistant professor M Tamim said the caretaker government did not get its deserving appreciation for its success in enhancing electricity generation.
"Out of the six rental power plants the caretaker government approved, three of them have already initiated electricity generation," he said.
Tariff rates of these plants are higher as these have been taken on urgent basis for short-term. But the cost of not supplying electricity is much higher, professor M Tamim added.
This short-term supply source has created a breathing space to facilitate initiation of electricity generation from several large power plants, he said.
He hoped that the country would start getting benefit out of these new power plants before the onslaught of the next summer.
Professor M Tamim, who is also an energy expert, stressed that the country's large coal resources should be utilised for power generation to meet the country's future energy security.
The next elected government should take necessary steps to overcome the primary energy crisis, he added.
Power secretary Dr Fauzul Kabir Khan said that some 1000 MW of additional electricity would be added to the national grid by next summer.
"The power sector won't face acute crisis for the next one or two years," he hoped.
The caretaker government will issue tender notice within the next few days to facilitate installation of large power plants, he added.
Power ministry officials said the Shikalbaha 50 MW rental plant would be furnace-oil based and initiate electricity generation within six months of signing the agreement.
The PDB will purchase electricity rate at 12.8 US cents per unit (1,000 kilowatt per hour) or Tk 8.77 per unit from the plant.