The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof M Tamim yesterday called upon the newly elected Awami League government not to make any more delay in taking decision on the issue of gas exploration because more delay will deepen the crisis.

He made this call in his last briefing on the performance of the Power and Energy Ministry during a year he served with the status of a State Minister.

Prof Tamim has expressed his deep frustrations as he was not able to sign deals on offshore gas block bidding and also failed to get coal policy approved.

I have some frustrations about the offshore gas block bidding and approval of the coal policy…all these should have been done, he said reporters at the Energy Ministry.

About the offshore bidding, Tamim said the tender was done fully in transparent manner and the proposed deals were better in any comparison with the previous deals.

"But, the energy ministry didn't get positive response from the two major political parties. That's why the caretaker government is leaving the matter for the elected government."

Tamim, however, claimed that he had tried to improve the gas supply situation in port city Chittagong and after his effort about 40 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas was added to the national grid.

Of this, Chittagong city will get 10 MMCFD of gas which will improve

the situation, he said, adding that a 50-MW power plant is being installed for the port city as well.

He also said that about 170 MMCFD of gas would come to the national grid by the middle of the current year while about 500 MW power would be added to the national grid.

Tamim, in his last day of office, also held a farewell meeting with the officials and employees of his ministry.

Despite completion of all procedures, the government could neither sign an accord on the installation of 450-MW power plant at Bibiyana, nor sign deals on the 3rd round international gas block bidding.

Of this, Chittagong city will get 10 MMCFD of gas which will improve the situation, he said, adding that a 50-MW power plant is being installed for the port city as well.

He also said that about 170 MMCFD of gas would come to the national grid by the middle of the current year while about 500 MW power would be added to the national grid.