The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Consumers in energy sector yesterday opposed Petrobangla's suggestion for enhancing in gas prices and said that it would experience adverse impacts in other sectors.

Besides all the stakeholders in energy sector raised their voice for an increase of the gas prices.

During a public hearing, the consumers said if the state-owned petroleum corporation will allow raising the gas tariffs, it would have an effect on socio-economic sectors too. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) arranged the public hearing at its office.

The government should frame a policy first for giving subsidy to the energy and power sector and then come with any proposal for price hike, they suggested.

But Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed safeguarded his agency's position in raising the gas price by 65 percent on average.

He said that Petrobangla would not be able to continue its operation to provide gas supply by incurring huge losses if it was not allowed.

BERC Chairman Ghulam Rahman announced the commission would pronounce its judgment within October after the daylong hearings.

He directed all the stakeholders to send their post-hearing remarks by October 6.

Power Development Board (PDB), Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), FBCCI, MCCI, DCCI, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Consumers Association of Bangladesh and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) representatives participated in the brainstorming over the price-hike move of the interim regime.

CAB representative and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology Professor Dr. Shamsul Alam said since the Petrobangla is a service-providing statutory body, the government should not have a profit-motive in its operations.

"Government has to first determine a policy on its subsidy to the Petrobangla and then propose a rational price hike," said the chief of the consumers' lobby.

The TIB representative said if the Petrobangla was allowed to raise the gas prices, it would have a serious impacts on other sectors as well.

PDB officials said if the Petrobangla was allowed to raise the gas prices, then they would need to readjust the tariffs again.

Representatives of the business bodies like FBCCI, DCCI and MCCI questioned the wisdom of the Petrobangla in thinking of a raise in the gas prices when country's economy is passing through tough times.

BERC director (power) in a proposal said that gas price could be raised in two phases in a rational manner.