The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE demand for power has increased over the years. It is due to the higher consumption of power in industries, commercial complexes and residential areas. As reported in the Bangladesh Economic Review, 2007, the generation of electricity with the use of gas may become uncertain as supply from the present recoverable reserves may exhaust by 2011. The recoverable gas reserve in the country was estimated at around 15.189, Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF). Around forty percent of the reserve has already been used for generation of electricity, production of fertiliser and the remaining reserve may be exhausted by 2011. That being so, the use of coal for generation of electricity is an imperative.

The existing supply of power is quite inadequate and the people at large look for effective measures for augmenting the generation and supply of electricity. Over the past one year new power stations and terminals have been set up at different locations in the country. The transmission and distribution lines have been expanded. The use of electricity for operating water pumps used in farm sector has also increased. The need for augmenting the generation of electricity has been reviewed in a round table held the other day at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. The Secretary of the Ministry of Energy was the Chief Guest and was reported to have told the meet that the government has taken a decision to optimise extraction and utilisation of coal for meeting the growing demand for power.

The Country Director of the Asian Development Bank, pointed out that a sort of imbalance is pronounced. While the eastern zone of the country has been having more and more industries, the western zone remains less developed. The western zone lags behind in respect of industrialisation. He underscored the use of coal for generation of electricity and production of building materials among other things that could be used in factories and establishments. The people at large have no technical knowledge on the use of coal. They may only insist upon the use of the natural resources for creating job opportunities for young people. The generation of electricity with coal may augment its supply to the western zone. The use of coal should be based on proper planning. The possible negative environmental effects of extraction of coal on the people living around the mines should be off-set by taking adequate pollution abatement measures.