The New Nation - Internet Edition

A SPECIAL report in The New Nation yesterday gave a shocking disclosure of the inefficient use leading to colossal wastage of natural gas when power generation and industrial production are seriously hampered due to short supply of the same. According to the report, the country incurs a loss of Taka 4,075 crore every year for wastage of 50 percent gas due to inefficient utilisation in worn out industrial units. About 930 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas out of a total 1988 mmcfd available is burnt in non-productive ways. Gas consumption efficiency level in all types of power plants ranges from 20 percent to 33 percent, meaning 80 percent to 67 percent wastage. According to experts, daily gas demand could easily be met from the existing production if proper use could be ensured.

The Haripur and Shahjibazar power plants reportedly consumed more than 7,000 mmcfd of gas in 2008 to produce 480 GWh of electricity. Aero-derivative gas turbines could generate some 880 GWh of electricity using the same amount of gas. Generation efficiency can easily be raised to above 50 percent using combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) from 31 percent of steam thermal power plants. In a CCGT, waste heat can also be used to generate additional electricity through a steam turbine. For use of sophisticated machinery, according to sources, gas utilisation efficiency of the Jamuna Fertiliser Factory ranges from 70 percent to 85 percent.

The government should therefore go for use of modern machinery for maximum and cost effective use of this most valuable energy resource. Use of dilapidated machines should be stopped by all means. Vigilance should be strengthened to stop wastage of gas. Pilferage of gas, reportedly six percent, should also be stopped. A national taskforce may be formed to look into the matter.