80 million cubic feet of gas per day will be shipped from the Bhola gas field in the form of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and added to the national grid within the next two to three months, said Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
He said this at an event in response to the demands of businessmen in favour of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market at increased prices.
Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) organised the program titled "Mitigation of the Impact of Energy Crisis on the Industrial Sector" in a city hotel on Sunday.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi said, "1,000MW more of electricity will be added to national grid from coal-fired power plant within December-January. Besides, 1000MW more electricity will be generated from renewable energy within the next year. Then we can reduce the gas supply for electricity generation and spare some gas for industrial use. If the situation does not improve, we might have to refrain from using electricity during the day time if necessary.
“If we import 200 MMcf of gas for the next six months at the current spot market rate, it will cost about $1.2 billion more than long-term LNG. But the government is not in a position to invest this amount as our reserves position does not permit it. We do not know what will be the next global situation. So, everyone should be prepared to face the challenge," he added.
PM's energy adviser further said, “There were days when we used lamps at night. We had done all our work in daylight. We should do away with luxury and stop misuse of electricity.”
He also requested not to use air conditioner. He said, "If we want, we can turn off the AC and reduce the electricity consumption. There is a demand for five to six thousand megawatts for running AC. We will keep the AC off or run low. It will save two to three thousand megawatts and gas will be saved.”
Responding to a query what the government is going to do Tawfiq said, "We will ask for financing from some country willing to support us, but I don't know how far our efforts will be fruitful.”
The energy advisor further said, "We have received offers to buy LNG at a very low price from several places. They proposed to sell $10-12 per mmbtu of LNG. However, I don't know how they will supply at so cheap rate. We are discussing about the issue.”
Binayak Sen, director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) said, "Food and energy is our basic security. If these are not ensured, we will face the same situation as Europe is doing.”
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) president Mohammad Ali Khokon said, "If the government gives us gas worth $100,000, we will bring $2400,000 in exports for our country. So, I request the government to give us 200 mmbtu of gas and we will bring $ 60lakh from our export.”
FBCCI former president A K Azad said, “We request the Prime Minister that not a single factory should be closed due to gas crisis. We can start night shift in our factories even if we get five percent gas.”
Ijaz Hossain, Professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) presented keynote paper at the discussion program.
Among others FBCCI president Jasim Uddin, MCCI President Mohammad Saiful Islam, CCCI President Mahbubul Alam, FICCI vice-president Swapna Bhowmik, BKMEA Vice President Akhtar Hossain Apurba also spoke at the event.
