UNB, Dhaka :
The Power and Energy sectors have received a total allocation of Tk 18,540 crore for the 2015-16 fiscal, a near-doubling of the allocation for the sector (combining both development and non-development expenditure) in the outgoing fiscal Tk 9,338 crore.
Of the total, the power sector has received Tk 16,503 crore (against the outgoing fiscal’s Tk 8,286 crore) while the fuel and energy sector will receive Tk 2,037 crore against the outgoing fiscal’s Tk 1,052 crore.
The allocation for the sector, at 6.3 percent of the total budget, is one of the highest.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said power crisis has almost been mitigated by taking some short and medium term steps. Now the government is taking a number of steps aimed at lasting and sustainable solution.
Briefly describing the government’s achievements in the power sector, he said power generation capacity has increased to 13,675 MW from 4942 MW in 2009 (including 2000 MW captive and 175 MW solar power).
“We have been able to generate an additional 6323 MW electricity from January 2009 to March 2015. In addition to increasing the power generation capacity, our target is to ensure supply of at least 80 percent of the production capacity by 2018,” the finance minister said.
He also claimed that significant progress has taken place in the energy sector due to the government’s “relentless efforts”. At present, 2700 million cubic feet gas (mmcfd) is being produced and supplied daily from 20 gas fields across the country.
“We have installed pre-paid metres in different places on a pilot basis to increase efficiency in households’ use of gas and stopped giving new household connections”.
About the coal-based power generation, he said considering that coal will be the main fuel after 2015, the government has finalized a plan to establish coal-based power plants.
Some of the important steps are: forming Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company for setting up 1320 MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal, signing an agreement with JICA for the construction of 1200 MW coal-based power plant at Matarbari, installing four power plants at Moheskhali with combined capacity of 4800 MW and another plant generating 1320 MW at Paira in Patuakhali with the financial assistance of China, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore.
At the same time, the Finance Minister said, agreements have also been signed to establish coal-based power plant to generate 1411 MW electricity under public-private partnership.
About nuclear power plant he mentioned that as a long term solution of power crisis, the government has undertaken a plan to generate 2000 MW and 4000 MW of electricity from nuclear energy by 2022 and 2030 respectively.
Regarding power import under sub-regional cooperation, Muhith mentioned the government has fixed a target to import 6500 MW electricity by 2030 from the neighbouring countries.
The Power and Energy sectors have received a total allocation of Tk 18,540 crore for the 2015-16 fiscal, a near-doubling of the allocation for the sector (combining both development and non-development expenditure) in the outgoing fiscal Tk 9,338 crore.
Of the total, the power sector has received Tk 16,503 crore (against the outgoing fiscal’s Tk 8,286 crore) while the fuel and energy sector will receive Tk 2,037 crore against the outgoing fiscal’s Tk 1,052 crore.
The allocation for the sector, at 6.3 percent of the total budget, is one of the highest.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said power crisis has almost been mitigated by taking some short and medium term steps. Now the government is taking a number of steps aimed at lasting and sustainable solution.
Briefly describing the government’s achievements in the power sector, he said power generation capacity has increased to 13,675 MW from 4942 MW in 2009 (including 2000 MW captive and 175 MW solar power).
“We have been able to generate an additional 6323 MW electricity from January 2009 to March 2015. In addition to increasing the power generation capacity, our target is to ensure supply of at least 80 percent of the production capacity by 2018,” the finance minister said.
He also claimed that significant progress has taken place in the energy sector due to the government’s “relentless efforts”. At present, 2700 million cubic feet gas (mmcfd) is being produced and supplied daily from 20 gas fields across the country.
“We have installed pre-paid metres in different places on a pilot basis to increase efficiency in households’ use of gas and stopped giving new household connections”.
About the coal-based power generation, he said considering that coal will be the main fuel after 2015, the government has finalized a plan to establish coal-based power plants.
Some of the important steps are: forming Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company for setting up 1320 MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal, signing an agreement with JICA for the construction of 1200 MW coal-based power plant at Matarbari, installing four power plants at Moheskhali with combined capacity of 4800 MW and another plant generating 1320 MW at Paira in Patuakhali with the financial assistance of China, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore.
At the same time, the Finance Minister said, agreements have also been signed to establish coal-based power plant to generate 1411 MW electricity under public-private partnership.
About nuclear power plant he mentioned that as a long term solution of power crisis, the government has undertaken a plan to generate 2000 MW and 4000 MW of electricity from nuclear energy by 2022 and 2030 respectively.
Regarding power import under sub-regional cooperation, Muhith mentioned the government has fixed a target to import 6500 MW electricity by 2030 from the neighbouring countries.
