Staff Reporter :
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has decided to provide gas connection to new industrial units responding to the demand of the business community, official sources said.
They said, the decision came from a high-level meeting held at the Ministry on Thursday.
Earlier, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urged the authorities concerned to provide gas connection to new industrial units by August this year.
“The body has decided to provide gas connections to 355 industrial units as
per the demand notes issued by the concerned government agencies” a senior Energy Ministry official told The New Nation on Saturday on condition of anonymity.
According to him, a total of 193 new factories will get gas connection in the first phase while rest of 162 factories will enjoy the facility in the second phase.
“The state-owned gas distribution companies have been asked to provide gas connections to the new factories after completion of necessary formalities,” he added.
When asked, he said, the factories which are going to get new gas connections are ready to go into production. Earlier, the body sorts out their applications that remained pending for years.
The government stopped giving gas connections to the industrial and commercial sectors from 31 July 2009. It later formed a high-level committee led by Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury to settle urgent applications from various sectors.
“As part of the ongoing task, the committee has approved 355 appeals from the industrial sector and nearly 1000 applications from industrial and commercial sectors remained pending for approval”, said the Ministry official.
He further said that these industrial and commercial clients will get their connections gradually as the government wants to maximize the use of gas resource to these sectors rather than household purpose for rapid industrialization of the country.
Praising the decision, FBCCI Vice-President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said that it would help the new factories to go into production These industrial units have been failing to go for operations due to lack of gas for long.
“Giving connections to all industrial units might not be possible but the beginning of such initiative would boost the manufacturing sector,” he added.
According to the FBCCI, more than 1500 industries are ready to go into production, but they failed to move forward for lack of gas connection.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has decided to provide gas connection to new industrial units responding to the demand of the business community, official sources said.
They said, the decision came from a high-level meeting held at the Ministry on Thursday.
Earlier, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urged the authorities concerned to provide gas connection to new industrial units by August this year.
“The body has decided to provide gas connections to 355 industrial units as
per the demand notes issued by the concerned government agencies” a senior Energy Ministry official told The New Nation on Saturday on condition of anonymity.
According to him, a total of 193 new factories will get gas connection in the first phase while rest of 162 factories will enjoy the facility in the second phase.
“The state-owned gas distribution companies have been asked to provide gas connections to the new factories after completion of necessary formalities,” he added.
When asked, he said, the factories which are going to get new gas connections are ready to go into production. Earlier, the body sorts out their applications that remained pending for years.
The government stopped giving gas connections to the industrial and commercial sectors from 31 July 2009. It later formed a high-level committee led by Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury to settle urgent applications from various sectors.
“As part of the ongoing task, the committee has approved 355 appeals from the industrial sector and nearly 1000 applications from industrial and commercial sectors remained pending for approval”, said the Ministry official.
He further said that these industrial and commercial clients will get their connections gradually as the government wants to maximize the use of gas resource to these sectors rather than household purpose for rapid industrialization of the country.
Praising the decision, FBCCI Vice-President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said that it would help the new factories to go into production These industrial units have been failing to go for operations due to lack of gas for long.
“Giving connections to all industrial units might not be possible but the beginning of such initiative would boost the manufacturing sector,” he added.
According to the FBCCI, more than 1500 industries are ready to go into production, but they failed to move forward for lack of gas connection.
