Some gas-fired power plant projects may be dropped
FE Report | Sunday, 20 July 2008
The country will not afford to have any more gas-fired power plant due to dwindling supply of the natural fuel, a top government official said Saturday.
"The government might even drop some of the projects on installation of gas-fired power plants," said chief adviser's special assistant professor M Tamim at a seminar.
Professor M Tamim, also an energy expert, was speaking as the chief guest at the seminar titled, "Bangladesh's main challenge to meet future electricity demand," organised by a fortnight magazine Energy and Power.
Energy and Power editor Mollah Amzad Hossain moderated the seminar, organised on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the magazine, at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. Former secretary Quamrul Islam Siddique presented a key-noted paper in the seminar.
Speaking on the occasion professor M Tamim identified lack of skilled manpower both in gas and power sector as the main reason for years of failure in augmentation of electricity generation and gas production.
"The level of understanding and shortage of skilled manpower is the number one hindrance," he said categorically.
In the past 10 years, the country could discover only one gas field at Bangura with reserves of only 500 billion cubic feet, said professor M Tamim pointing to the achievement of gas sector.
"So, the present government has to think about gas import,' he said. Professor M Tamim also underscored the necessity for raising the energy prices to ensure sustainability of energy companies.
To boost gas production by state-owned companies the government recently allocated Tk 350 billion to Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) to expedite its operation.
He also called for a consensus among the political parties in taking up necessary decision and action programmes to ensure future energy security.
"The country has adequate energy resources like gas reserves, coal deposits, renewable energy potentials and efficient energy consumption to meet the mounting energy demands at least for next 20 years," professor M Tamim said.
"We should go for multiple approaches in resolving the country's power and energy crisis," he said.
To ensure energy security for the next two decades there must have consensus among the political parties, and decisions should be taken shortly with pragmatic vision, he said.
Otherwise, the country's future energy security will be in jeopardy, professor M Tamim said.
Planning commission member AMM Nasir Uddin, energy regulatory commission chairman Golam Rahman, rural electrification board director Bd Rahmatullah, infrastructure, investment facilitation center executive director Nazrul Islam, Jahangirnagar University professor Khalil R Chowdhury and former petrobangla director Moinul Ahsan were among others spoke on the occasion.
"The government might even drop some of the projects on installation of gas-fired power plants," said chief adviser's special assistant professor M Tamim at a seminar.
Professor M Tamim, also an energy expert, was speaking as the chief guest at the seminar titled, "Bangladesh's main challenge to meet future electricity demand," organised by a fortnight magazine Energy and Power.
Energy and Power editor Mollah Amzad Hossain moderated the seminar, organised on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the magazine, at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. Former secretary Quamrul Islam Siddique presented a key-noted paper in the seminar.
Speaking on the occasion professor M Tamim identified lack of skilled manpower both in gas and power sector as the main reason for years of failure in augmentation of electricity generation and gas production.
"The level of understanding and shortage of skilled manpower is the number one hindrance," he said categorically.
In the past 10 years, the country could discover only one gas field at Bangura with reserves of only 500 billion cubic feet, said professor M Tamim pointing to the achievement of gas sector.
"So, the present government has to think about gas import,' he said. Professor M Tamim also underscored the necessity for raising the energy prices to ensure sustainability of energy companies.
To boost gas production by state-owned companies the government recently allocated Tk 350 billion to Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) to expedite its operation.
He also called for a consensus among the political parties in taking up necessary decision and action programmes to ensure future energy security.
"The country has adequate energy resources like gas reserves, coal deposits, renewable energy potentials and efficient energy consumption to meet the mounting energy demands at least for next 20 years," professor M Tamim said.
"We should go for multiple approaches in resolving the country's power and energy crisis," he said.
To ensure energy security for the next two decades there must have consensus among the political parties, and decisions should be taken shortly with pragmatic vision, he said.
Otherwise, the country's future energy security will be in jeopardy, professor M Tamim said.
Planning commission member AMM Nasir Uddin, energy regulatory commission chairman Golam Rahman, rural electrification board director Bd Rahmatullah, infrastructure, investment facilitation center executive director Nazrul Islam, Jahangirnagar University professor Khalil R Chowdhury and former petrobangla director Moinul Ahsan were among others spoke on the occasion.