Experts suggest multi-pronged strategy to ease energy crisis

The Financial Express

13.04.2010

M Azizur Rahman

Energy experts have recommended for implementing multi-pronged strategies simultaneously to ease the unprecedented energy crisis the country is now facing as a consequence of imprudent planning by the authorities for long.

The government should work rigorously for ramping up natural gas and electricity output, ensure optimum use of gas fields and power plants, implement energy-mix in consumption they suggested, while talking to the FE Monday.

The country is now reeling under acute gas and electricity crisis leading to production cessation in scores of manufacturing plants, closure of compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations, suffering to households and damages to electrical appliances.

The government has stopped providing new gas and electricity connections, introduced holiday staggering in industries, banned usage of air-conditions during peak hours and changed official dress code to avoid wearing suits by government officials during office for the first time in the country.

It officially admits electricity supply shortfall of around 1,500 megawatts and gas production deficit of around 300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd).

But actual demand is much more than the official figures the energy experts argues saying the electricity supply shortfall would be around 4,000 mw, the same quantity the country is now generating, and gas at least around 1000 mmcfd, half of the current total output.

“The government must go for oil and gas exploration in onshore and offshore gas fields simultaneously to ensure the country’s future energy security,” said professor M Tamim of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

“The absolute dependence on natural gas for generating electricity must go”, he said.

“The government should divert the fuel source to coal, nuclear power and renewable energy apart from natural gas,” said Mr Tamim, who is also an adviser of the previous caretaker government.

Currently 80 per cent of the power plants are run by natural gas. But it should be around 40 per cent, with another 30-40 per cent by coal and remaining by oil, nuclear power and renewable energy, he suggested.

The BUET professor also opined for import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and popularise the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as alternatives to the existing piped gas.

For augmenting electricity generation Mr Tamim suggested for adopting long-term action plan apart from the ad-hoc plans to ease the crisis.

“It seems that the government has no intention to resolve the country’s energy crisis,” said professor Anu Muhammad of Jahangir Nagar University.

He blamed the government for allowing the international oil companies (IOCs) sit idle for long without conducting any exploration works under the pretext of ‘absence of market.’

Though the IOCs signed PSCs for over a dozen gas blocks they are now operational in less than half of their assigned blocks, said Anu Muhammad, who is also a rights group leader, alleged.

He suggested for engaging the state-owned entities for oil and gas exploration.

“The IOCs are pressing to raise gas price pushing the government to an awkward position,” he alleged.

Professor Anu Muhammad urged the government for utilising the country’s coal-reserves through setting up coal-gasification units.

“It would save the locality and conserve environment as well,” he added.

Professor Anu Muhammad blamed the ‘dubious’ role of the multilateral donor agencies -World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – during mid 1990s by stopping funding which, he said, led to the current catastrophic electricity crisis.

“The government should shun their prescription and let the local entrepreneurs build plants,” he added.

Former director general of Power Cell BD Rahmatullah said: “By renovating the aged power plants, that are now running at de-rated capacity, the government can add around 600 mw of electricity to the national grid by next six months.”

Installing capacitor banks at power plants can save around 250 mw and setting up intelligent motor controller (IMC) with motors can save 500 mw, he said.

Reduction of systems loss can straight way save around 400 mw of electricity, he added.