Energy Bangla

The government will provide new gas connections and additional gas load to 355 industrial units across the country though the country is facing a shortfall of 500mmcfd-600mmcfd.
A special committee led by Prime Minister’s power and energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury took the decision to give new gas connections to 355 industrial units.
The government is now rationing gas supply to different consumer units due to shortage of around 600mmcfd against the country’s total demand for 3,200mmcfd.
“We have no problem in providing new connections as additional 125mmcfd-150mmcfd is required for 355 industrial units,” Energy and Mineral Resources Division secretary Md Abubakar Siddique told on Sunday.
He said all the fertilizer factories of the country had been shut down as a part of the government gas rationing programme.
“If necessary, the government will reduce supply of natural gas to the power plants to facilitate supply of the fossil fuel to other sectors of the country,” he said.
Abubakar Siddique said that the government’s new initiative will help facilitate country’s industrial growth.
Asked if they face any opposition to providing new industrial connections, he said the special committee has decided to provide gas connections and additional load through review of the existing gas supply.
Abubakar Siddique mentioned that gas production has increase to around 2700mmcfd during his tenure as secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
He, however, said the special committee has also decided not to provide gas connections to any CNG stations. CNG stations are consuming around five percent of the country’s gas production.
Besides, the government has also decided not to allow new gas connections to captive power plants as it consumes 444mmcfd of gas.
“We have decided to gradually withdraw gas supply from the captive power plants as they consume gas inefficiently,” he said.
As per the government’s special committee decisions, the industrial units will not allowed to get new gas connections or additional gas load if it enjoys gas illegally or they have outstanding gas bills.
The industrial units must have international standard energy efficient boilers and a capacity to conserve or save natural gas to get new connections.
Captive power plants will not be given new industrial connections, as per the special committee’s decisions.
As per the decision, industrial units under Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd will get 160 new connections and 140 additional load.
Besides, consumers under Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd will get 11 connections and 12 additional loads while Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Ltd will get 12 new connections and five additional loads.
Eight new connections and seven additional gas loads will be provided to the industrial consumers under Pachimanchal Gas Company Ltd.