The Financial Express, 10 September 2012
Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said Sunday that the government would resume providing new gas and electricity connections to industries from next month.
“We shall start giving new gas and electricity connections to industries from next month. But the consumers must have to be conservative while using energy”, he said.
The PM’s adviser also urged the consumers to get ready to pay more for electricity consumption and suggested efficient use of energy.
Mr Chowdhury was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled: “Coal-fired Power Plant: Bangladesh Perspective.”
Country’s apex trade body — the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) — organised the seminar at its conference room in the city.
State Minister for Power and Energy Muhammad Enamul Haque was the special guest at the seminar chaired by FBCCI President AK Azad.
Former adviser to the caretaker government and eminent businessman Syed Manzur Elahi, Energy Secretary Mohammad Mesbauddin, professors of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dr Nurul Islam and Dr Ijaz Hossain, former Petrobangla director Maqbul-e-Elahi, eminent educationist Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers’ Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Editor of Amader Arthonity Naymul Islam Khan also spoke on the occasion.
Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad made the keynote presentation on the country’s power sector and future plan of coal-fired power plants.
Pointing to the country’s future energy requirement Mr Chowdhury stressed the need for setting up coal-fired power plants.
“To reduce environmental pollution we should utilise super critical technology in coal-fired power plants,” he said.
Pointing to the proposed 1,320 megawatts (mw) coal-fired power plant planned to be built under joint venture with India at Rampal in Bagerhat, Mr Chowdhury said the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is yet to be completed over the project.
The government is serious about the environmental issues and it will share its views with the stakeholders at an appropriate time, he said.
The government will move with the plant keeping in mind the environmental issues, he added.
Speaking at the seminar the environmentalists were critical of the proposed power plant at Rampal.
They said it would badly affect the environment especially the ecology of the Sundarbans.
Syed Manzur Elahi said the country requires providing due importance to smooth growth of the manufacturing industries for employment generation.
The manufacturing industries require energy, he said.
Mr Elahi urged the government to provide electricity at an affordable cost to small and medium enterprises and energy to big industries.
“There is no way to avoid the manufacturing sector,” he said. Otherwise the country would face consequences like those of Greece and the USA, which rely more on service sectors, Mr Elahi added.
He also suggested formulation of energy related policies as soon as possible to accelerate the country’s economic growth.
Energy Secretary Mesbauddin said the government has moved to build imported coal-based power plants as there are many unsettled issues relating to environment and extraction of coal from local mines.
The government is diversifying energy sources, he said.
“There should be a coal research institute before setting up coal-based power plants to determine the merits and demerits of using coal, the methodology of coalmining etc,” said Prof Nurul Islam.
Prof Ijaz Hossain said super critical technology is being used in the developed world to address the environmental issues in coal-fired power plants.
“We can also use the technology here in Bangladesh, if we are ready to bear the cost,” he added.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan said despite repeated appeals from environmentalists, the government did not provide any documents relating to the proposed Rampal power plant.
“So we have to make our comments on the basis of news published in the newspapers,” she said.
She censured the government for not preparing the coal policy yet.
Bangladesh Economy 
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