LNG import may push up the local gas price enormously if inefficiency in energy use is not stopped.
Energy experts at a seminar on Thursday came up with the apprehension at a seminar on ‘LNG Import: Opportunities and Challenges’ organised by Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) at Sinha Lounge in Dhaka Club in the city.
They observed that consumers are paying extra money due to lack of transparency in gas price calculation and also suggested for paying more attention to local gas exploration by strengthening state-owned exploration outlet Bapex.
Responding to the suggestions, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the government is trying to improve the efficiency of the officials in energy sector.
"The officials of Petrobangla and Bapex do not want their own development. If they don't want development and technological advancement, how far I could push them up," he said.
He also said officials at power sector are more cooperative for which development took place in power sector expeditiously.
With FERB Chairman Arun Karmaker in the chair, the seminar was also addressed by BUET's Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering Department's Professor, Dr M Tamim, former chairman of Petrobangla and BPC M Muktadir Ali, Advisor of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Prof M Shamsul Alam, expatriate energy expert Saleque Sufi, and FERB executive director Sadrul Hasan.
Nasrul Hamid said the government sometimes getting confused with the self-contradictory suggestions of the officials in the energy sector.
"When they work as the government employees, they suggest in one way and after leaving the jobs, they say just opposite", he said adding "it may be a reason for which we are now at the developing stage and we don't have enough experience in energy sector."
Regarding the suggestions about the energy efficiency, he said inefficient fertilizer factories should be shut down.
He said Power Division will give retirement to liquid-fuel fired power plants within next 4-5 years once the base-load power plants come into operation.
Nasrul Hamid said the government is approaching with a broader outlook of LNG import and regional power trading, reports UNB.