Opposition wants task force to tackle energy crisis

Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman on Monday called for a special task force of political parties and technical experts to address the country's worsening power and energy crisis. Warning that prolonged shortages were disrupting industries and leaving rural areas without electricity for up to 14 hours, he moved a notice for a brief discussion on a matter of urgent public importance. Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed blamed the previous Awami League regime's import-dependent energy policy amid a lack of domestic exploration, while planning state minister Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government was pursuing a more self-reliant energy policy. State minister for power, energy and mineral resources Anindya Islam Amit said that the government had short-, medium- and long-term measures in place and expected the crisis to ease by next year. The country will be free of any energy crisis by 2030, he also said. With deputy speaker Kayser Kamal in chair, Shafiqur urged the government to disclose the actual extent of the power shortage instead of offering what he described as excuses or false assurances. State minister Anindya Islam Amit said that the recent rise in global fuel prices amid the ongoing Middle East crisis had highly increased liquefied natural gas procurement costs from the spot market. Shafiqur Rahman also demanded an end to meter rents and demand charges, which he said were still being collected despite parliamentary assurances that they would be withdrawn. The home minister said that the government planned to install a third floating storage and regasification unit at Matarbari under a government-to-government agreement with China within 18 months. A land-based LNG terminal would also be built there, alongside hundreds of kilometres of pipelines to ensure uninterrupted gas supply, he also said. Salahuddin said that domestic coal use, including a planned 600MW power plant using coal from Barapukuria, would also be expanded. Onshore and offshore gas exploration had been intensified after years of limited activity, while gas extraction in Bhola was being revived to support new fertiliser and power projects, he further said, adding that the government was also planning a large LPG terminal and storage facilities at Matarbari. Anindya Islam Amit on consumer concerns, Amit said that scrapping meter rents entirely would require Tk 29,000 crore, adding that the government aimed to bring most consumers under smart prepaid meters by 2030 to address billing irregularities.