Concern over apathy to gas exploration

A group of experts yesterday expressed concern over the government's indifference to the supply of primary energy and said emphasis on electricity production alone cannot ensure energy security.

M Nurul Islam, a former professor of chemical engineering at Bangladesh University of Enginee-ring and Technology, said the name of the power, energy and mineral resources ministry should be changed to the energy ministry.

“Because of this name, everybody is just interested in making investment in power, power and power, and the investment for primary energy is very small. The ratio is one-fifth.”

Islam's comments came at a roundtable on Bangladesh's “energy security and future challenges” at EMK Centre in Dhaka.

The Department of Law and Human Rights of the University of Asia Pacific organised the programme in partnership with the American Alumni Association.

“If we really want energy security, we will have to ensure the supply of primary energy first of all.”

Islam said the recently approved seventh five-year plan does not say anything about the supply scenario of primary energy for the base year running from 2016 to 2020.

“If this is the reality, then how will the country ensure energy security during the seventh plan period and beyond? I am really getting worried.”

Islam said domestic sources provide better energy security compared to imported ones. “This should be kept in mind.”

In Bangladesh, the government has doubled the generation of electricity in the last five years. But the fast depletion of natural gas, which accounts for 70 percent of power generated in the country, has become a major concern.

Given the current pace of consumption, the gas reserves will finish within 15 years, according to government officials and policymakers.

At present, Bangladesh relies on domestic sources for meeting 70 percent of its electricity demand, while the rest is met through imported fossil fuel.

“But the way we are going and the plan we have for the electricity sector, our total import dependence will be 92 percent by 2030 if we don't develop our own coal,” said M Tamim, a former energy adviser to caretaker government.

“That is a big challenge. How are we going to manage the finance, the infrastructure of imports and deal with our manpower development?”

He said there is not a single engineer in the country who can manage a 1,200-megawatt coal-fired ultra-critical power plant.

Dr Kamal Hossain, a jurist, said experts had issued warning about the gas crisis long ago but the country has not responded accordingly. “Something has to be done. Otherwise, we see a disaster down the road.”  

He also said there is a huge disparity in case of electricity between the urban and rural populations. Affordability and pricing is very critical in ensuring energy security, Hossain added.

To have energy security one needs to have full control over the resources, said Abdul Matin, former chief engineer of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

“But we don't know what the Russians are doing at the Rooppur nuclear power plant. Everything is dictated by the Russians.”

“For the first time, we have come to know about the total cost. But, we still do not know about the cost of generation. Why are they shy about disclosing the figure?”

He raised the question why the project director of the nuclear power plant is a physicist and the regulatory body responsible for ensuring safety is headed by a biologist. “How can we know that the plant will serve the interest of the country and it will be run safely?”

CM Shafi Sami, a former caretaker government adviser, said there should not be any conflict between the bureaucrats and professionals.

Badrul Imam, a professor of geology at Dhaka University, said unless Bangladesh has the capability to explore the gas sector on its own, the interest of the country cannot be fully protected.

Following settlement of maritime boundaries with Myanmar and India, Myanmar has completed initial exploration of its resources but Bangladesh has done very little, he added.

Jamilur Reza Choudhury, vice-chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific, urged the government to strengthen the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company to explore the hydrocarbon potential. It should be in the driving seat while working with the international oil companies, he added. 

Muhammad Imaduddin, director of the Bangladesh Gas Field Company, said the country has been trying to develop a liquefied natural gas plant for the last five years without much progress.

Shamsul Alam, energy adviser of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said the rights of the consumers in the energy sector are seriously neglected.

“The government does not want to listen to our arguments,” he added.

Sohel Ahmed, chief operating officer of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd, said the future of renewable energy in the country lies with small-scale solar home and irrigation systems.

Kamal Uddin, deputy general manager of Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd, called for ensuring energy efficiency.

“Before we produce any energy we need to think about how best we will able to utilise it,” he added.

Sajjad Zohir, executive director of the Economic Research Group; Choudhury Ishrak Ahmed Siddiky, adjunct professor of the University of Asia Pacific; and Tahsin Aman, president of the American Alumni Association, also spoke.