power tariff
No cut in next 5 yrs: Minister
The state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, Nasrul Hamid, has said that it will not be possible to reduce the electricity price in the next five years. Answering questions of journalists at a press conference at Bidyut Bhaban yesterday (Tuesday), the state minister said large power plants, which could have brought down the electricity price to a reasonable level, are yet to be launched. Without large coal-based mega projects like Matarbari, Payra and Rampal, reducing the electricity price will not be feasible for the government, he added. The price might be reduced once these power plants start generating electricity, he noted.
The press conference was organised to brief journalists about the Prime Ministers inauguration of 21 power projects today (Wednesday).
Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 21 power projects (generation, transmission and distribution) through video conference from her office in the capital, officials in the Power Division said.
Of these projects, eight are newly built power generation plants having a capacity of 1,379 MW, a newly built sub-station and a transmission line, completion of 100 per cent electrification in 10 upazilas and new electrification in another upazila.
In reply to queries, Hamid said the power, energy and mineral resources ministry and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) have send recommendations for electricity price hike to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).
He also said as the gas price for electricity production has increased, the price of electricity will have to be raised. When asked why the electricity price could not be reduced despite increased power generation, Hamid replied that there is still a difference between the production cost and distribution cost. The government has so far implemented a number of small- and medium-term plans for the power sector. However, the power tariff cannot be brought down without the completion of a long-term mega project, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Maj. Gen. Moin Uddin, chairman of the Rural Electrification Board (REB), said 100 per cent electrification has been achieved in 31 upazilas. The PM has inaugurated six of them and today she will inaugurate another 10, he added.
He said 15 more upazilas are ready to be inaugurated by the PM as upazilas with 100 per cent electrification. Another 15 will be added by March, 86 by June and another 81 by December. By December 2018, we plan to bring all 461 upazilas under 100 per cent electrification, added the REB chairman. According to official documents, the eight newly built power plant projects are Shahjibazar 330 MW combined cycle plant of PDB, Khulna 225 MW converted combined cycle plant of the NWPGC, Ashuganj 450 MW combined cycle plant of the ASPSCL, Manikganj 55 MW liquid fuel plant of Dhaka Northern Power General Ltd, Nababganj 55 MW liquid fuel plant of Dhaka Southern Power Generation Ltd, Jamalpur 98.84 MW dual-fuel plant of PowerPac, Barisal 110 MW dual-fuel plant of Summit Group and Madanganj 55 MW liquid fuel plant of Summit Group.
The 10 upazilas having completed electrification are Keraniganj and Savar of Dhaka, Tungipara of Munshiganj, Kotalipara of Gopalganj, Bhuapur of Tangail, Karnaphuli of Chittagong, Dagonbhuiyan of Feni, Kuliarchar of Kishoreganj, Mujibnagar of Meherpur and Syedpur of Rangpur. The new upazila set for 100 per cent electrification is Thanchi of Bandarban. The newly installed transmission line is the Bibiyana-Kaliakoir 400 kV transmission line and the sub-station at the Fenchuganj-Bibiyana 230 kV line.
On August 13 last year, the Prime Minister had inaugurated six upazilas that had completed 100 per cent electrification.
