Gas price hike is not required now rather the government can stem misuse, corruption and bribing in the energy sector, speakers said at a seminar Thursday.
They also stressed the need for assigning well-drilling job to the state-run BAPEX instead of international oil companies to reduce the overall costs and increase efficiency.
The Forum for Energy Reporters' Bangladesh (FERB) organised the seminar on "LNG Import: Opportunities and Challenges," at Dhaka Club in the city, where State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) Nasrul Hamid was the chief guest.
"Gas price at the consumer level doesn't require to be hiked even after importing around 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) equivalent of LNG if theft could be stopped and corruption is checked," said energy adviser of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Prof M Shamsul Alam.
If gas theft in Titas's franchise areas, especially in Narayanganj and Gazipur, could be curbed, tariff hike would not be required, said former top official of Petrobangla Saleque Sufi.
Efficient SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system in the transmission could play a significant role in stopping gas theft, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, the state minister blamed the top management of energy companies for not taking any timely steps.
"Energy experts are confused so are the consumers," he said.
Mr Hamid also blasted top management of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX), saying it was the main barrier to enhancing the state firm's efficiency.
BAPEX is not interested to recruit quality people or engage efficient consultants to increase the efficiency, he said.
Quoting a former top brass of BAPEX, the minister said, "While he was in office he said there was no future potential of the country's natural gas."
"But now he says, there is no future hope of the country's energy without the help of Russian Gazprom," said Mr Hamid.
He underscored professionalism in every sphere.
A power management institute will be established with the help of foreign firms to train up necessary manpower in government's energy companies, he added.
The minister, however, said the import of LNG (liquefied natural gas) would create new opportunities for investment in the country.
Bangladesh received its first LNG cargo on April 24 as the US-based Excelerate Energy Bangladesh Ltd brought its floating, storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU), carrying 136,009 cubic meter of lean LNG from Qatar's RasGas.
The country would also ensure consumption of multiple sources of energy, which include petroleum product, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), and CNG (compressed natural gas).
Ratio of oil-fired power plant would be reduced to around 10 per cent from the existing 30 per cent of overall generation within the next four to five years with the commissioning of several big base-load power plants, he said.
Regional integration would also continue to ensure the country's future energy security, he added.
Energy expert and former special assistant to caretaker government Prof M Tamim, former Petrobangla chairman Muqtadir Ali also spoke in the seminar chaired by FERB chairman Arun Kormokar and moderated by executive director Sadrul Hasan.
