Govt plans body to ensure power, energy to industries

Minister of state for energy and power Nasrul Hamid yesterday said that a committee would be formed in the next two weeks to ensure uninterrupted power and energy supply to industries, garment factories and other companies. He said this at a programme held on ways to solve problems relating to power and energy. The minister said that the chairman of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (EPRC) would head the committee, which will identify the problems in a couple of months and recommend solutions within a year. Earlier, he held a discussion with officials of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) on the problems regarding energy and power.  The heads of the different sector talked about their specific problems, which made the state minister consider the formation of a committee.

While delivering his speech as the chief guest, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, the energy adviser to the Prime Minister said that industrialists had to be more frugal in using captive power.  To do so, the captive power plants must go for co-generation and re-cycle the heat generated by the power plants.

He directed the formation a committee to look into the issue. Sustainable And Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) will help implement the committee’s recommendations. At the end of the programme, the minister told reporters that the Energy Resource Council had been given the responsibility of discussing the energy problem of the textile, spinning and garment industries.

“Our committee will comprise the private and government sectors. This committee will look into the basic problems and has been named as the Problem Solving Committee,” he added. “We have a lot of electricity capacity but they complain that they are not getting adequate electricity. They said their production was being hampered due to lack of electricity, even if for two hours. We will look for the possible and immediate solutions to these problems,” he said.

In reply a question by reporters, the minister said that the businessmen wanted to get an idea of what the energy price would be for the next five years. “We are trying to find out how to give an indication within a reasonable time, as it all depends on demand. It may take a while,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, he said that action would be taken against those who had not paid their gas bills. He said about Tk 4,000 crore were pending as outstanding gas bills.

“We want a list of companies with outstanding bills. And we will action against those who do not pay,” he warned.

Six representatives of the BTMA with president Mohammad Ali Khokon, five representatives including Faisal Samad, senior vice president of BGME, also attended the seminar. On the other hand, Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, power secretary and Helal Uddin, chairman of SREDA, and other representatives were also present at the programme.

Govt plans body to ensure power, energy to industries

Minister of state for energy and power Nasrul Hamid yesterday said that a committee would be formed in the next two weeks to ensure uninterrupted power and energy supply to industries, garment factories and other companies. He said this at a programme held on ways to solve problems relating to power and energy. The minister said that the chairman of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (EPRC) would head the committee, which will identify the problems in a couple of months and recommend solutions within a year. Earlier, he held a discussion with officials of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) on the problems regarding energy and power. The heads of the different sector talked about their specific problems, which made the state minister consider the formation of a committee. While delivering his speech as the chief guest, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, the energy adviser to the Prime Minister said that industrialists had to be more frugal in using captive power. To do so, the captive power plants must go for co-generation and re-cycle the heat generated by the power plants. He directed the formation a committee to look into the issue. Sustainable And Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) will help implement the committees recommendations. At the end of the programme, the minister told reporters that the Energy Resource Council had been given the responsibility of discussing the energy problem of the textile, spinning and garment industries. Our committee will comprise the private and government sectors. This committee will look into the basic problems and has been named as the Problem Solving Committee, he added. We have a lot of electricity capacity but they complain that they are not getting adequate electricity. They said their production was being hampered due to lack of electricity, even if for two hours. We will look for the possible and immediate solutions to these problems, he said. In reply a question by reporters, the minister said that the businessmen wanted to get an idea of what the energy price would be for the next five years. We are trying to find out how to give an indication within a reasonable time, as it all depends on demand. It may take a while, the minister said. Meanwhile, he said that action would be taken against those who had not paid their gas bills. He said about Tk 4,000 crore were pending as outstanding gas bills. We want a list of companies with outstanding bills. And we will action against those who do not pay, he warned. Six representatives of the BTMA with president Mohammad Ali Khokon, five representatives including Faisal Samad, senior vice president of BGME, also attended the seminar. On the other hand, Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, power secretary and Helal Uddin, chairman of SREDA, and other representatives were also present at the programme.