State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid on Saturday said that the next two years will be critical for the country’s energy sector.
He said, “In next two years, we have to be leapfrog in ending all our plans and there will be huge challenges.”
Nasrul made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled ‘Highest Utilisation of Natural Resources of Bangladesh: Philosophy of Bangabandhu’ at FBCCI Bhaban in the capital.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) organised the seminar with its president Jashim Uddin in the chair, reports UNB.
The State Minister said that the country will come out of the gas crisis in the next two years.
“We’ll bring unutilised gas from Bhola to Dhaka while the huge underground gas pipelines will be replaced with new ones. The pipeline project will require about Tk 12,000 crore to implement.”
About the power sector, he said that after achieving cent percent electricity coverage, now the government’s target is to provide uninterrupted and affordable electricity all over the country.
Echoing the junior minister, Energy Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumder said that industries will not face any gas crisis from January, 2026.
Making a presentation on the topic, eminent energy expert Dr Badrul Imam said that the country’s two-third area still remains unexplored while the country is experiencing a huge gas crisis.
He said the best way to address the current gas crisis is to enhance local gas exploration.
But unfortunately exploration works are not getting due importance, he observed.
Dhaka Chamber president Sameer Sattar said that the initiatives should be taken immediately for gas exploration across the country with due importance.
Former vice president of FBCCI Dewan Sultan Ahmed said the Titas Gas authority often moves to remove illegal gas connections. But they never disclose how long these illegal consumers are using such gas without any payment.
FBCCI advisor Abdul Haque said that despite different initiatives there is no major progress in gas exploration and what is the gap that should be identified.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul