Business Reporter :”Industrialists should go for power-based industrial units instead of gas-based ones to cut reliance on gas, as there is a short supply of the precious energy”, FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad said this at a press interaction at the Federation Bhaban on Saturday. “You (manufacturers) please go for power-based industries. The government has assured us of providing unhindered electricity supply,” hinted FBCCI chief.Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) arranged a function to brief the media about its plan to explore Benelux region — Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg for attracting more investment in Bangladesh and boost export to those countries. DBCCI President M Hassan Khaled and DBCCI leaders were present.Quoting the Prime Minister, the President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said Sheikh Hasina made it clear that the manufacturers would not get gas supply in future like before as the gas reserve is declining fast.”But there has been an official announcement that the government will approve electricity connection for industrial units instantly if anybody applies for,” said Matlub, also Nitol Niloy Group Chairman.Encouraging the entrepreneurs on power-based industries, he said Bangladesh can also be successful like other countries in the world which are depending on power-based industrial units.The FBCCI chief, however, said the industrial units should get priority to use the available gas now.Responding to a question on price hike of gas and electricity, Matlub said getting connections is more important to them than price hike.Over the last 7-8 years, they have been deprived of energy connections in their industrial units that forced them to stay idle with huge investment, he added.Retail customers will have to spend on average 2.93 percent more on electricity and Tk 200 more on gas from this September. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced a new tariff structure on Thursday.”I think the government is rethinking about the price hike,” he said adding that gas is very precious and all need to be careful about using it.On diesel price, the FBCCI chief said the price remains the same in the domestic market though the price has come down to half in the international market. He urged the government to “Reduce the diesel price immediately.”He said dependence on gas would come down automatically if diesel price reduced in the domestic market.Meanwhile, the FBCCI thank the government for taking a decision to settle the unsettled applications on electricity connections for industrial units by December 31.The apex trade body hoped that the industrial units would be able to go for production once they get electricity connections thus contributing to the economy with increased employment generation.Statistic says this is the first hike in gas tariff since 2009 though CNG prices went up twice in 2011. On the other hand, the retail power price increased on six occasions in the last six years — the last one in March 2014.Under the new structure, average retail power tariff rises by 2.93 percent to Tk 6.33 kilowatt-hour unit from Tk 6.15.Bulk rates have been raised to Tk 4.90 from Tk 4.67 per unit.Per unit production cost stands at Tk 6.93, meaning Tk 0.60 will have to be subsidised on average from the state coffers.The tariff of the power for irrigation has gone up to Tk 3.82 from Tk 3.39 per unit.
