ter of the Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MoPEMR), gave the directives while visiting the ministry on Thursday. Prime Minister’s Power and Energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid, Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Power Secretary Monwar Islam, Energy and Mineral Resources division secretary Abu Bakar Siddique and senior official concerned were also present during the premier’s visit to the ministry. About the PM’s directive, State Minister Nasrul Hamid said the premier said the government would not go for open-pit mining considering the food security of the mine areas. “She also considered the fact that a huge number of people will be displaced for open-pit mining,” said the state minister. “I cannot go for open-pit mining in the cost of food security and displacement of a large number of people,” Hamid quoted the premier as saying. The premier also asked the officials concerned to lease foreign coalmines or strike long-term coal import deals immediately to ensure smooth fuel supply of fuel to the coal-fired plants. Officials informed the PM that the country has a reserve of 3,565 tons of coal against the production capacity of only 1:0 million tons per year through ground mining in the country’s lone natural coalmine reserve at Barapukuria. The prime minister also asked the officials to expedite oil and gas exploration in the onshore and offshore blocks; especially the onshore blocks. State-run Petrobangla is now producing 2,645mmcfd gas against the country’s demand of 3127mmcfd, which forced it to introduce a gas rationing system. The premier asked the officials to discourage piped gas connections to the households and promote the use of bottle LPG in 70 percent areas within the next three years. The demand of LPG in the country is around five lakh tons against the supply of only 1.5 lakh tons. Country’s remaining gas reserve currently stands at 14.55 trillion cubic feet (tcf) in 26 discovered gas fields after consumption of 12.12tcf so far, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division informed the premier. Besides, the government is yet to be confirmed about the actual amount of gas reserve in 26 offshore blocks out of the country’s 48 onshore and offshore gas blocks. The Premier directed the officials to set up a dedicated pipeline between Chittagong and Dhaka Airport via Godnail to tackle pilferage of petroleum fuels. The PM also asked to gear up the implementation of the second unit of the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) having capacity to refine 3.0 million tons of petroleum fuel. She also asked to set up land-based LNG terminals in Moheskhali and Paira. During her meeting with the high ups of the ministry, the primer minister, gave approval for reasonable hike in power and energy tariff. Officials informed the PM that Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is currently facing a loss Tk 1.46 per unit for supplying electricity at lower tariff than the electricity generation cost. The PM asked the officials to introduce pre-paid metering in the electricity billing system in order to save electricity. She also asked to run campaigns at the school level to promote the habit of saving electricity. The Premier praised the Rural Electrification Board (REB) for providing over one lakh new electricity connections. She directed the officials to provide electricity connections to new industrial units immediately after they apply for connections. The Premier also asked power division officials to complete the large power projects within the next three years. The PM asked not to extend the tenure of any oil-fired rental and quick rental power projects for more than two to three years. She also stressed on the need for importing more electricity through regional initiatives to meet the country’s growing electricity demand.
Friday, April 10, 2015
PM says no to open-pit mining Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday rejected the idea of conducting open-pit mining in local coalfields and directed the officials:Daily Sun
ter of the Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MoPEMR), gave the directives while visiting the ministry on Thursday. Prime Minister’s Power and Energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid, Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Power Secretary Monwar Islam, Energy and Mineral Resources division secretary Abu Bakar Siddique and senior official concerned were also present during the premier’s visit to the ministry. About the PM’s directive, State Minister Nasrul Hamid said the premier said the government would not go for open-pit mining considering the food security of the mine areas. “She also considered the fact that a huge number of people will be displaced for open-pit mining,” said the state minister. “I cannot go for open-pit mining in the cost of food security and displacement of a large number of people,” Hamid quoted the premier as saying. The premier also asked the officials concerned to lease foreign coalmines or strike long-term coal import deals immediately to ensure smooth fuel supply of fuel to the coal-fired plants. Officials informed the PM that the country has a reserve of 3,565 tons of coal against the production capacity of only 1:0 million tons per year through ground mining in the country’s lone natural coalmine reserve at Barapukuria. The prime minister also asked the officials to expedite oil and gas exploration in the onshore and offshore blocks; especially the onshore blocks. State-run Petrobangla is now producing 2,645mmcfd gas against the country’s demand of 3127mmcfd, which forced it to introduce a gas rationing system. The premier asked the officials to discourage piped gas connections to the households and promote the use of bottle LPG in 70 percent areas within the next three years. The demand of LPG in the country is around five lakh tons against the supply of only 1.5 lakh tons. Country’s remaining gas reserve currently stands at 14.55 trillion cubic feet (tcf) in 26 discovered gas fields after consumption of 12.12tcf so far, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division informed the premier. Besides, the government is yet to be confirmed about the actual amount of gas reserve in 26 offshore blocks out of the country’s 48 onshore and offshore gas blocks. The Premier directed the officials to set up a dedicated pipeline between Chittagong and Dhaka Airport via Godnail to tackle pilferage of petroleum fuels. The PM also asked to gear up the implementation of the second unit of the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) having capacity to refine 3.0 million tons of petroleum fuel. She also asked to set up land-based LNG terminals in Moheskhali and Paira. During her meeting with the high ups of the ministry, the primer minister, gave approval for reasonable hike in power and energy tariff. Officials informed the PM that Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is currently facing a loss Tk 1.46 per unit for supplying electricity at lower tariff than the electricity generation cost. The PM asked the officials to introduce pre-paid metering in the electricity billing system in order to save electricity. She also asked to run campaigns at the school level to promote the habit of saving electricity. The Premier praised the Rural Electrification Board (REB) for providing over one lakh new electricity connections. She directed the officials to provide electricity connections to new industrial units immediately after they apply for connections. The Premier also asked power division officials to complete the large power projects within the next three years. The PM asked not to extend the tenure of any oil-fired rental and quick rental power projects for more than two to three years. She also stressed on the need for importing more electricity through regional initiatives to meet the country’s growing electricity demand.
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