Petrobangla seeks ministry's help in realising outstanding gas bills
Friday, 28 December 2007
M Azizur Rahman
State-owned Petrobangla has sought energy ministry's intervention in realisation of outstanding gas bills worth Tk 15.88 billion from 45 government entities, including ministries, departments and autonomous bodies.
"We have urged the ministry to take necessary measures that include holding of an inter-ministerial meeting with representation from all concerned default government entities to ensure payment," Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed told the FE Thursday.
He said the gas companies under the Petrobangla are not getting gas bills for long from many of the government entities.
The outstanding gas bills lying with the government entities, as on October 2007, stood at Tk 15.88 billion, which is equivalent to nearly seven months bills, the chairman said.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) tops the list of the gas bill defaulters' list with Tk 6.98 billion in arrear, followed by the Power Development Board (PDB) with dues of Tk 4.36 billion.
The BPC owes Petrobangla Tk 5.36 billion, Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd (BGFCL) Tk 815 million, Sylhet Gas Fields Company Ltd (SGFCL) Tk 515 million, Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) Tk 289 million and Bakhrabad Gas Systems Ltd (BGSL) Tk 5.14 million.
Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) is the third biggest defaulter of gas bills worth Tk 2.05 billion.
Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (Kafco) owes Tk 786 million to a number of gas companies.
Among the defaulting ministries, jute ministry owes Tk 558 million, public works Tk 382 million, textile Tk 151 million, home Tk 102 million, health and family welfare Tk 70 million, communications Tk 56 million, defence Tk 47 million, education Tk 46 million, local government and rural development Tk 29 million, liberation war affairs Tk 27 million, posts and telecommunication Tk 19 million, establishment ministry Tk 14 million, forest and environment Tk 12 million and information ministry Tk 11 million.
The ministries of fisheries, industries, land, water, shipping, cultural, women and child affairs, science and information and communication technology, food, labour and employment, commerce, law and parliamentary affairs, social welfare, power, energy and mineral resources are also on the list of defaulters.
Besides, Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Dhaka City Corporation are also among the gas bill defaulters.
Despite repeated attempts and warning from the Petrobangla and the gas companies concerned the defaulters are not clearing the pending gas bills, it is alleged.
The large amount of pending gas bills is limiting Petrobangla's capacity to make payment to the international oil companies (IOCs) producing gas in the country, said Petrobangla sources.
State-owned Petrobangla has sought energy ministry's intervention in realisation of outstanding gas bills worth Tk 15.88 billion from 45 government entities, including ministries, departments and autonomous bodies.
"We have urged the ministry to take necessary measures that include holding of an inter-ministerial meeting with representation from all concerned default government entities to ensure payment," Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed told the FE Thursday.
He said the gas companies under the Petrobangla are not getting gas bills for long from many of the government entities.
The outstanding gas bills lying with the government entities, as on October 2007, stood at Tk 15.88 billion, which is equivalent to nearly seven months bills, the chairman said.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) tops the list of the gas bill defaulters' list with Tk 6.98 billion in arrear, followed by the Power Development Board (PDB) with dues of Tk 4.36 billion.
The BPC owes Petrobangla Tk 5.36 billion, Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd (BGFCL) Tk 815 million, Sylhet Gas Fields Company Ltd (SGFCL) Tk 515 million, Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) Tk 289 million and Bakhrabad Gas Systems Ltd (BGSL) Tk 5.14 million.
Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) is the third biggest defaulter of gas bills worth Tk 2.05 billion.
Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (Kafco) owes Tk 786 million to a number of gas companies.
Among the defaulting ministries, jute ministry owes Tk 558 million, public works Tk 382 million, textile Tk 151 million, home Tk 102 million, health and family welfare Tk 70 million, communications Tk 56 million, defence Tk 47 million, education Tk 46 million, local government and rural development Tk 29 million, liberation war affairs Tk 27 million, posts and telecommunication Tk 19 million, establishment ministry Tk 14 million, forest and environment Tk 12 million and information ministry Tk 11 million.
The ministries of fisheries, industries, land, water, shipping, cultural, women and child affairs, science and information and communication technology, food, labour and employment, commerce, law and parliamentary affairs, social welfare, power, energy and mineral resources are also on the list of defaulters.
Besides, Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Dhaka City Corporation are also among the gas bill defaulters.
Despite repeated attempts and warning from the Petrobangla and the gas companies concerned the defaulters are not clearing the pending gas bills, it is alleged.
The large amount of pending gas bills is limiting Petrobangla's capacity to make payment to the international oil companies (IOCs) producing gas in the country, said Petrobangla sources.