Decisions on power, energy tariff hike should be based on realities: Energy Adviser

FE Team | Published: March 21, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury on Friday urged the power and energy sector officials to take their decisions considering the country's social and political perspectives.
"While taking decisions, you should always keep in mind the social and political perspectives. The government has to consider many realities too," he said.  
The adviser was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day "Sector Leaders' Workshop" at Bidyut Bhaban in the city, reports UNB.
Held with Power Division secretary Monowar Islam in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by Prime Minister's principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Planning Commission member ASM Golam Faruque, Sreda chairman Tapos Kumar Roy and PDB chairman Shahinul Islam.
Dr Elahi said different donor agencies on different occasions suggested the government to raise power and energy tariffs, but the government has to think about the social and political implications of implementing such suggestions.
"So, the power and energy sector top management will have to consider the social and political perspectives and take decisions from a realistic point of view."
Urging them to accelerate team work in the power and energy sector through good leadership, he said country's 70 per cent people now have access to electricity and this has been possible due to bold and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Appreciating her dynamism, the adviser said the prime minister has a vision of serving the country's people and take it to a middle-income country by 2021. "She always thinks about the common people while taking any decision."
On the sidelines of the workshop,  Dr Elahi said the country has now achieved a benchmark of 13,000 MW of installed capacity of power generation. The country is now ready to generate 10,000 MW of power against a demand for 8,000 MW in the coming summer, he added.
Principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the power sector has got a paradigm shift in the energy source for power generation. "Now 70 per cent power is being generated from gas which was more than 90 per cent a few years back."
He urged the power sector officials to pay more attention to generate electricity from renewable energy. He suggested taking measures to utilise the rooftop of different government offices for installing solar panels for power generation.
Mr Azad also urged the officials for taking initiatives to install pre-paid metres for power and gas consumers to ensure energy efficiency.