The state-owned oil and gas company, Petrobangla, will stop supplying gas to all CNG-filling stations from 3 pm to 9 pm, effective from Ramzan 1 to 26, to meet the extra demand of power during Iftar, Tarabi and Shari. Petrobangla will also suspend gas supply to re-rolling mills from 6 pm to 11 pm during Ramzan. It has further decided to cut gas connections of fertiliser factories, except KAFCO, to ensure 1,100 mmcf of gas for power plants across the country.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, energy adviser to the Prime Minister, on Thursday announced these measures, as well as contingency plans taken up by the power and energy division to address the demand and supply gap of power. “We’ve fixed a target to produce 6,500 MW of electricity during Ramzan. So, we need to divert gas supply from fertiliser factories, cut supplies of CNG-filling stations and re-rolling mills during peak hours, “ he said.
Chowdhury was talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, secretaries of the energy, the power and railway divisions were present. “We’ve formed monitoring committees in upazilas, districts and divisions. We’ve asked them to monitor the entire task,” Tawfiq said. He directed the BPC chairman to continue its supply of diesel and furnace oil to all public and private power generating authorities to ensure fuel supply to liquid fuel-based power plants.
Replying to a question, Chowdhury said that the country should not waste gas and power, in the face of a scarce situation.
-with The Independent input
