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DHAKA, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS)– Speakers at a seminar today put emphasis on framing a balanced energy pricing policy for sustaining industrial growth, preserving jobs and protecting the economy’s stability of the country. 

They also stressed the need for enhancing domestic exploration and supply of gas, increasing coal and LPG based gasification, building up industrial LPG, going for deep offshore drilling and searching for sustainable energy solutions.

The speakers also noted that in order to maintain industrial competitiveness, Bangladesh must address key policy considerations, including energy pricing, investment in renewable energy and strategies to stabilize the power grid. 

They made the observations at a seminar on “Policy Considerations in Energy Affordability and Impact on Industrial Competitiveness”, held at a hotel in the capital today. Policy Exchange and the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) jointly organized the seminar. 

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed spoke at the seminar as the chief guest while Professor and Dean of Engineering, BUET, Dr Ijaz Hossain made the special remarks.

Mohammad Hatem, president of Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, President of BCI, Aameir Alihussain, Managing Director, BSRM, Zaved Akhter, President of FICCI and Managing Director of Unilever, Nuria Lopez, President of EUROCHAM, Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon and Showkat Aziz Russell, President, Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTMA) spoke as panel discussants.

Dr Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO, Policy Exchange Bangladesh made the key-note presentation and also moderated the seminar. ERF President Doulat Akter Mala made the welcome remarks.

Speaking on the occasion, BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed said that nothing really was done over the last 15 years of the previous regime in terms of gas exploration especially in offshore gas exploration, but there was something in carrying out seismic works and surveys.

Noting that Bangladesh is now paying the price for ‘exploration gap’, Jalal said that the country had long been procuring LNG with higher prices, but could not go for gas exploration in large scale.

Putting emphasis on properly conducting the gas exploration initiatives, he said that if gas could be brought from Bhola to Dhaka, then there could be respite from acute energy crisis for at least the next three years.

The BERC Chairman said that it would be beneficial for the country if it go for power swap with Nepal as well as put more focus on solar power generation utilizing the land in the char and coastal areas.
BUET Professor Dr Ijaz Hossain said that the gas exploration and supply from the fields are declining everyday while the country is now more energy dependent in terms of import.

He also stressed the need for more gas exploration, enhancing domestic supply of gas, increasing coal and LPG based gasification, building industrial LPG and going for more drilling of deep offshore gas wells.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said although the previous government had pledged to ensure uninterrupted energy supply to the industries, but they could not live up to their commitments, rather the gas crisis was severe over the last few years.

He also called upon the BERC to make a rationale pricing of energy instead of raising the energy tariff abruptly.

BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell said that they are all concerned over the energy price and thus suggested for conducting researches to determine effective energy pricing.

President of BCI Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury said that energy is the lifeline of an industry while there would be no industry, if there is no energy.

He said that the current interim government should support the existing industries to become successful and competitive. “We’ve to keep survive the existing industries,” he added.

BSRM Managing Director Aameir Alihussain said that it is not a good time to consider energy price hike while such hike would put a negative impact on the overall economic activities.

He suggested that the energy price should be a ‘blended price’ while it cannot be increased so much considering the affordability and competitiveness of the industries.

Citing that the challenge in energy cost is a big hurdle towards flourishing businesses, FICCI President Javed Akhter underscored the need for finding out a sustainable energy solution.

For ensuring sustainable energy pricing, Dr Masrur Reaz in his power-point presentation put emphasis on impact assessments, gradual price adjustments, high pricing of captive power, reducing system loss, devising transparent pricing formula, ensuring fair and uniform pricing, developing energy strategy and increasing domestic exploration.