Coal power is a prime need

The country's focus should be on using coal as primary fuel for affordable power generation as gas-based electricity production is not sustainable in the long-run, speakers stressed at a seminar yesterday.
“Coal-based power is the best option for electricity generation. But it has to be imported coal,” said Monowar Islam, power secretary.
Domestic coal cannot be used for power generation right now as the country's prime focus is on using the fertile lands for agriculture production, he said.
Islam stressed regional and bilateral cooperation to develop a regional power grid so that every country can have a win-win situation.
His comments came at a seminar on foreign investments, jointly organised by Indo-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and the Indian High Commission at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel. Abdul Matlub Ahmad, founder president of IBCCI, moderated the discussion.
M Tamim, a former adviser to the caretaker government, said the current practice of supplying power using gas is costly and inefficient, so it cannot be sustained.
“It will fail ultimately. So the focus should be on coal, either imported or domestic. Only then we can have affordable electricity.”
He said gas prices are still low in Bangladesh compared to other regional countries. “If the prices are adjusted, electricity prices will go up again.”
Abul Kalam Azad, senior secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, said it will take time to transform power generation from gas-based to coal-based.
“We need to run the existing plants. At the same time, we need to focus on arranging other methods for power generation. But it is complicated and time-consuming.”
Azad, the former power secretary, said some 35,000 prepaid meters will be installed in a month in DESCO coverage areas.
The Power Division plans to replace all the existing electricity meters with prepaid ones in the next five years. The move is likely to save 25 percent to 30 percent electricity, he said.
“We are in public-private partnership in power generation, and we are going to transmit electricity through public-private partnership soon.”
Presenting a keynote paper at the discussion, RV Shahi, former power secretary of India, said Bangladesh's power generation mostly depends on gas, a costly exercise.
The present highly skewed fuel mix needs to be changed, he said.
“Coal needs to occupy a major space to balance the cost structure of power,” he said, adding that the mix of domestic and imported coal needs to be appropriately fixed for both optimal cost and also for energy security.
Sandeep Chakravorty, India's deputy high commissioner, said everyone knows about the gas situation in Bangladesh. “So, coal-based power generation is the sustainable option for Bangladesh.”
“Diversification of primary fuel source for power generation is a prime need,” he added.