DHAKA, June 5, 2014: Proposing to allocate Tk 11540.40 crore for power, energy and mineral resources ministry, finance minister AMA Muhith told the House that electricity will reach every household within the next five years with the implementation of medium and long term plans.
Of the Tk 11540.40 crore, the finance minister proposed to allocate Tk 9284.17 crore for power division and Tk 2256.23 crore for energy and mineral resources division.
“We had set a target of generating 20,000 megawatt (MW) of electricity by 2021 but considering the growing demand and increasing generation capacity, we have re-fixed this target at 24,000 MW,” he said.
To achieve the changed target, the government has taken initiatives, apart from increasing domestic production, to generate and allocate power through bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements with neighboring India, Bhutan and Nepal.
He said the government has already taken to raise power
generation capacity to 18,162 MW by 2017.
Muhith said the government will take necessary steps to dig
21 wells in order to enhance gas generation capacity by 2015-16.
Import of LNG from abroad will continue, he said, adding that the
government is considering the establishment of an LNG terminal
and necessary infrastructure in Maheshkhali Island.
The finance minister said steps have been taken to establish
coal based power plants with a generation capacity of 1426 MW by
2017 which will shift the burden from gas which contributes to 78
percent of power generation in the country.
Two nuclear power plants will be set up at Ruppur with a
total generation capacity of 2000 MW of electricity, he said.
To produce 800 MW of electricity by 2015 using renewable
energy, the government has established a special fund to finance
renewable energy based power plants. “The size of the fund will
stand at TK 400 crore with this year’s allocation,” he added.
He said move is underway to install more than 60,000 pre-
paid metres to ensure efficiency, transparency, and
accountability in power management.
About the development of energy sector, the finance minister
said steps are underway to enhance the capacity of BAPEX. Special
emphasis will be laid on discovery of new gas and oil fields, he
added. In addition, scope of assistance and cooperation with
international organisations to explore new gas and oil fields in
the coastal and deep sea areas will be widened, he said.
“We’ll also take initiatives to reduce the misuse of gas by
enhancing managerial efficiency in gas sector,” he added.
(BSS)