The Ministry of Power and Energy will make some recommendations to the Prime Minister to initiate some fresh steps to save electricity consumption across the country to tackle the ongoing load shedding.
The likely major recommendations are to reduce the weekly working hours and implement a work-from-home policy and also ask people to end social and cultural functions like marriage ceremonies and close down marketing and shopping mall by 7pm in a bid to save energy.
Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said this at a press conference after a meeting to review the power and gas situation across the country at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday.
Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said: “The recent crisis in the electricity sector is like a war situation as countries across the world is facing a similar crisis. Today we have discussed some issues. We will take action after getting approval from the prime minister.”
“Till September we have electricity demands of 14,500MW. We are trying to decrease this demand to 12,500 MW by imposing some directives to save electricity. If we can do it properly the level of daily load shedding will not cross 500MW hopefully,” said the advisor to the prime minister.
“We are not sure how long the power shortages will last but if we can survive till September then the situation will improve. At that time several coal-fired power plants will be commissioned. So, all of us should use electricity responsibly to tackle this situation right now,” he added.
He said that it was difficult to implement the demand for advance notice of where and how many hours of load shedding would take place.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said, “A number of suggestions have come up in today's meeting on energy conservation. We will take these suggestions to the Prime Minister. It includes implementing government office hours from 9Am to 3Pm, and marriage ceremonies program close down by 7pm. Keep the temperature of the air-conditioner (AC) at 25 degrees Celsius or above, ban on Illumination or lighting. Shopping mall closes at 8 p.m. It is also being considered whether it is possible to work from home for few days in a week. Reducing the use of electricity and AC in mosques and temples. If these plans can be implemented, electricity and fuel will be saved. There will be no load shedding.”
Explaining how the energy crisis will be reduced by September, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said that 1,160 MW of coal-based power will be available from India during that period. The Rampal power plant will generate 1,320 MW and the second unit of the Payra coal-fired power plant will generate 700 MW. Then the load shedding will come down.
Asked whether the ongoing crisis was due to the government's dependence on imports in the energy sector, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said, “Those who are saying this are not right. Because, gas production has increased locally. When the present government came to power in 2009, the daily production of gas was 1,800 mmcfd, which has increased by 1,644 mmcfd. More new activities are being taken to increase gas production. Petrobangla is working to increase gas production.”
Adviser to the Prime Minister said that load shedding is taking place in countries like Japan. All the developed countries of the world including the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia have been hit by the energy crisis. Compared to them, Bangladesh is in a very good position. Yet there is no opportunity to suffer in complacency.
The energy adviser said that gas and electricity connections were being used illegally in various places. Again, there are many outstanding bills. The government is taking a strong stand against illegal gas and electricity connections. The government will be strict in collecting the bills of those who are in arrears.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid virtually connected at the review meeting. He said that “the situation could return to normal by October. Gas exploration activities have been increased. The whole world has taken various initiatives to achieve austerity. We need to be economical in using gas and electricity.”
Senior Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Department Md. Mahbub Hossain, Power Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman, Cabinet Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Md. Samsul Arefin, Additional Secretary of Finance Division (Budget) Sirajun Noor Chowdhury, Director General of Power Cell Mohammad Hossain Heads and other high officials of the power and energy sector were present in the two hours long close-door meeting.
