The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Energy and Power Prof M Tamim yesterday ruled out the possibility of reducing prices of fuel during the tenure of the present government in the wake of fall in its price in the international market.

He told this to the reporters at the inaugural ceremony of 22-megawatt Tangail Power Plant in Tangail.

"The tenure of the present government will end in the next 45 days. It is not possible to reduce the fuel price during this time. The price might come down in January next," he said.

Listing the achievement of the present government Tamim said that the incumbent government has fulfilled its pledge one after another. "We have already added 350MW of power during last two years against our pledge to generate 1000MW of power. Another 450MW to 500MW will be added by February next year," he said.

He called for formulating an unified policy to solve the power crisis. "The next elected government will have to finalise the policy on coal lifting to addressed the power crisis," he noted.

He said the government has already approved the merchant power plant policy to encourage the private sector to generate power in the country. This will encourage the private entrepreneurs to set up power plant without any hindrance.

He further said the renewable energy policy will be approved by the cabinet next week.

He expressed the hoped that the next elected government will come forward to explore the gas fields to solve the energy crisis as the demand for it mounting steadily. He, however, hastened to add that only gas and coal would not able to meet our entire energy demand. For this, we have to explore other sources for sustainable development of the country, he added.

Power Division Secretary Dr M Fazul Karim Khan said that the present government has given permission to set up 22 small power plants across the country, of them four have already been commissioned. The rest power plants will go into operation by February next year, he informed.

Speaking on the occasion, Tahajib Alam Siddiqui, managing director of Doreen Power Generations and Systems Limited, said that they will complete the installation of three more small power plants having capacity of generating 44MW of power in Feni and Narshingdi by January next year.

The World Bank and NCC Bank have financed the implementation of the four power plants having 66MW capacity.

World Bank Country Director Zian Zhu, Power Development Board Chairman Sawkat Ali, Power Cell Director General Abdul Jalil, NCC Bank Managing Director Md Nurul Amin, Bangladesh Bank Project Director Abul Kasem, among others, addressed the function.