Power at subsidised rate to go: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday hinted that the government would not provide power at a subsidised rate in the future as she said people should at least pay its production cost.
“Now we are providing electricity at a subsidised price …you are getting it at a lower than production price,” she said while inaugurating the Powerpac-Mutiara 100-megawatt quick rental power plant at Chargalgalia.
Powerpac Holdings Ltd, a concern of Sikder Group which set up the plant, would run it on build, own and operate (BOO) basis.
Suggesting that people should pay the production cost of electricity at least, Hasina questioned, “Why should the government always pay the price for electricity?”
The prime minister also urged people to maintain austerity in using electricity to avoid higher bill and its wastage.
“At the beginning of the government, we had taken short-, mid- and long-term programmes by giving topmost priority to rebuilding the shattered power system,” she said.
The government has given priority to setting up rental and quick rental power plants alongside overhauling of the old power plants, she added.
The prime minister said 3650 MW of electricity has already been added to the national grid from 52 power plants in the last four years thanks to joint efforts of the public and private sectors.
She also laid emphasis on setting up solar panels on schools, madrasa and other organisations to generate electricity.
The prime minister's Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Energy, Power and Mineral Resources M Enamul Haque, among others, spoke on the occasion.