The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government has approved some new rental power plants in private sector with a total electricity generation capacity of 500 to 600 MW.

Dr M Fauzul Khan, Secretary of Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources discussed this while speaking at a roundtable discussion Saturday on "Power for all by 2020."

Besides that, the Power Secretary also has stated that, formation of the "Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC)" has been completed, which will enjoy complete independence in taking any related decision.

Explaining the government's latest power vision to confirm 60 per cent electricity coverage by 2010, the secretary of Power Division stated that the recently established BERC has been given authorisation to take decisions related to the power sector, including power price.

According to him, the BERC has been established to act independently, which will take steps to enable our national grid to meet local demand. Government will only play external advisory role in their decisions. In this process, involving the private sector in power generation is vital, he said.

However, in the government vision statement "Power for all by 2020," the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources have recast a shorter power goal, "60 per cent electricity coverage by 2010." To make it successful, the Power Development Board has raised electricity production by 500MW within last two to three months, he stated. "It was done, only by restructuring decision making authority within the division," added the Secretary. "Now, the plant manager of a particular power plant takes his own decision to control production on the basis of current demand.

Earlier, such decisions were taken by the Minister," he added.

Moreover, establishment opportunity of another 300 rental power plants in private sector were given approval with a capacity of 500-600MW, all together. The approval was given with a condition to start production within 120 days from its approval, he stated. Besides, a 120MW electricity generating 'Peak Hour Plant' is under development to meet raising electricity demand during peak hours.

"We have taken all these initiatives to facilitate our consumers with a better summer next year," said Dr Fauzul Khan, while explaining the development projects. In addition to these, he however mentioned that the three power generation projects at Bibiana, Sirajganj and Meghna Ghat are expected to complete by December 2008. All three of them are capable of generating 450MW electricity each from natural gas as primary source.

"Saving 1MW electricity means getting one MW in the time of necessity," Secretary of Power Division, however, added while speaking on the necessity to change our approach of wasting power. On the other hand, he also stressed to restrict our system loss ratio bellow 10 per cent from its present 20-25 per cent.

Talking about the potentiality of renewable energy sources in Bangladesh, he named several projects, which are already underway, initiated by the government. But commercial power generation projects from renewable sources are still in experimental stage, he added.

In his address, President Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) Hossain Khalid advised the government authority to finalize National Coal Policy as early as possible.

"Finalisation of Coal Policy for effective extraction and utilization of domestic coal is vital. Our coal reserves, about 14,000million tons, equivalent to 37 TCF gas, could be vital for power generation," the President of DCCI stated. Moreover, he proposed to establish more coal fired power plants with involvement of local and foreign investments.

The Dhaka Chambers of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) and the Daily Star organised the RTD, which was presided over by the Editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam.

On the occasion, Editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, Chairman Power Development Board Muhammad K Hyat Khan, Director Petrobangla Muhammad Muktadir Ali, Director Summit Power Touhidul Islam, Power Manager of Meghna Power Limited Reazul Haq presented keynote papers.