Only 4,500 pre-paid gas meters set up in 2 years

The installation of 600,000 pre-paid meters by the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd. to prevent misuse of the non-renewable fuel and manipulation of bill has failed to make any substantial progress even in two years.

So far, the Titas Gas has installed only pre-paid 4,500 meters against the target of 600,000 within 2013.

Earlier, the company said it would install 300,000 meters at their own cost. The rest would be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Acting Managing Director of the Titas Gas Md Nowshad Islam told the FE that they are in talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency for funding substantial quantity of planned 600,000 pre-paid meters.

"The quantity has not yet been decided, but very soon talks would be finalised," Mr Islam said.

In January 2012, the government formally inaugurated pre-paid gas meters for residential consumers of the capital's Lalmatia and Mohammadpur areas. It was to reduce wastage as part of its plan to ease gas crisis though the Titas had launched the pilot project in 2010.  

In line with the decision of the Titas Board, a pilot project named 'Installation of Prototype Pre-paid Gas Meters' project, was undertaken from the company's own fund.

A contract was signed between the Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation of the BUET and the Titas Gas on November 19, 2009 at an estimated cost of Tk 39 million.

Primarily, the project was taken for Dhanmondi. Later the project area was shifted to Lalmatia and Mohammadpur as per the decision made by the Titas Board.

Under the project, 5,000 meters were purchased and state-run Titas installed 4,500 pre-paid meters in the two areas at a cost of Tk 67 million.

Asked why it takes so long to finalise a deal with the ADB for funding of 300,000 pre-paid meters, Project Officer (Energy) of the Bank Md. Saidur Rahman told the FE that on their side, they were ready to provide assistance in this regard. But the rest is up to the government company.

If an agreement could be finalized with the ADB, 8,600 meters would be installed in Gulshan and Banani areas, according to a Titas source.

However, Md Nowshad Islam blamed bureaucratic complexities for the delay in installation of 600,000 meters in 2013.

The Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT) under the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has developed the meters that cost Tk 5,800 each. Those meters were used in pilot project.

The Titas officials said they are receiving positive response from the customers under pilot projects.

Currently the Titas has 1.7 million customers. It has a plan to bring all the customers under pre-paid meter projects.

Bangladesh has to opt for the pre-paid meters amid reports of widespread wastage of natural gas at the household level, said Mr Islam.

According to the Energy Ministry, the country is producing 1,900 to 2,000 million cubic feet gas per day. Of this, 750mmcfd is consumed by the power sector, 230 to 250mmcfd gas by the fertiliser sector and the rest is being used by residential and commercial consumers.

Hasina Begum, a pre-paid meter user of Lalmatia, said she is happy with the system. She is now more cautious as there is a chance to increase the bill due to sheer wastage of gas.

The main facility of pre-paid meter is negative balance. The connection will not be snapped even when the balance is exhausted. Gas worth Tk 50 can be used by the consumers in the negative balance, he said.

The pre-paid meters have a system under which the users could go on using gas even after their balance is spent by pressing a button. The extra use would be adjusted to the balance when the next card is charged,' she added.

She said first time they recharge Tk 300 with Tk 50 meter rent. Her four-member family uses Tk 300 gas every month since the meter was installed and they cut their expenses around Tk 100.

Currently, fixed bill of double burner gas connection is Tk 450. The Titas is planning to hike the bill shortly.