Nasrul Hamid
Diesel price likely to come down in a day or two: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said the government will make a readjustment in the petroleum price in a day or two.“The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is analysing the impact of the duty cut on diesel import. Once it’s complete, the government will make the readjustment”, he told reporters on Monday.The state minister, however, said it’s still unclear as how much downward price adjustment would be possible at this stage as the price of fuel is again increasing in the international market.
Also read: Import tax on diesel cut by 5 percent The comments from the state minister came a day after the government cut the duty on diesel import by half to five per cent and abolished all advance taxes on its import.The changes were notified through a gazette notification issued by the National Board of Revenue on Sunday.The order came into effect immediately and will remain effective until the end of (December 31) this year.
Also read: Cabinet purchase body approves import of diesel, Jet fuel, LNG and fertilizerThe NBR notification added that light and high speed diesel oils will get the new facilities.
Power supply situation now better than last month: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has claimed that the power supply situation has been better in the current month than that in the previous month.
“The power supply situation will further improve in the next month….the situation in energy supply will also improve”, he told a virtual discussion meeting organized by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to observe the 15th August National Mourning Day on Saturday.
He said the Russia-Ukraine war made the global economic situation vulnerable. It created huge uncertainty in the global energy market.
With BPDB chairman Mahbubur Rahman in the chair, the event was also addressed by former principal secretary to the Prime Minister Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and power secretary Habibur Rahman.
Reiterating his call to the people to be more patient to face the power and energy crunch, the Nasrul said Bangladesh will become a rich country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He mentioned that there was 16-18 hours of load shedding across the country before Awami League assumed power in 2009.
Read: Govt to slash fuel price when it goes down globally: Nasrul Hamid
From that situation, the PM implemented a programme to reach electricity to every house in Bangladesh, he added.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proved his great leadership by purchasing five gas fields from Shell Oil Company which now meet 40 per cent of the country’s total gas requirement.
He made the right to electricity as part of the constitution to ensure that people in rural areas get electricity.
Area-based industries to remain closed a day in a week to save gas, electricity: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that industries across the country will remain closed one day a week under a fresh area-based load shedding plan.Under a staggering programme an area-based factory holidays will be maintained to minimise consumption of both natural gas and electricity.He made the announcement after a meeting with business leaders at Bidyut Bhaban in the city on Sunday.The rationing system will help saving around 500-550 MW of electricity, he said.The government earlier on April 12 had imposed a four hour gas rationing for industries across the country from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm daily to save natural gas.
Read: Rangamati admin sets new octane-run autorickshaw fares considering price hike
Although initial decision was to continue gas rationing for 15 days, the government backed down and withdrew it after 10 days of its execution amid protests from business enterprises.During the meeting Nasrul said that the countrywide load-shedding will ease in September.“Load-shedding can come down to half from the current level in September and the country may get rid of load-shedding from October,” he added.During the meeting the business leaders requested to provide uninterrupted electricity supply and keep the captive power plants outside the purview of tariff hike.Senior vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, acting president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shahid Ullah Azim were among the top business leaders took part in the meeting.Under an ongoing austerity measure all the diesel-fired power plants are now shut and load-shedding is being implemented officially from July 19 to reduce diesel imports and save foreign currency.Although area-based load-shedding was scheduled for one hour, it continued for three hours at a time in some city areas across the country, it is alleged.Load-shedding in rural and remote areas, however, stretched for more hours, consumers claim.Markets and shopping malls can now stay open until 8:00 pm.The government also prohibited illumination in different social gatherings in community centers, shopping malls, shops, offices and houses since July 7.
Tariff & land main obstacle to the solar power: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has underlined the need for finding new sources and better use of modern technologies to face the challenges in the energy sector.
He said that tariff and land availability have been the main obstacles to promotion of solar power in the country.
He made the remarks while British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson called on him at his office at the ministry on Wednesday.
During the meeting they discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.
Read: E-waste management should be safe and environmentally friendly: Nasrul Hamid
The state minister said it is essential to boost energy conservation activities.
"The government has been working sincerely to promote clean energy. The process of importing hydropower electricity from Nepal is at the final stage”, he told the British envoy.
He also discussed the nationally determined contribution (NDC), climate change, local and sub-regional power sharing, power import, nuclear energy, renewable energy, solar home system, smart grid, primary energy, net metering system, electric vehicle, lithium battery, onshore and offshore wind power systems.
Senior climate and environment advisor Anna Balance and climate change policy manager Marjan Nur were present on the occasion.
E-waste management should be safe and environmentally friendly: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has urged all to ensure proper management of electronic waste.
“E-waste management should be safe and environment friendly. With the increased use of technology, electronic waste will go up. So, everybody has to be cautious about the management of e-waste,” he said while virtually addressing a function titled: “Green World of New Generation” organized by the Walton Laptop in the city.
Read: Power crisis will not last long: Nasrul Hamid
He said electronic waste will be a major hazard for the world in future.
The function was also addressed by chairman of Walton DG-tech Industries SM Rezaul Karim and managing director of Walton Hi-tech Industries PLC Golam Morshed.
Nasrul Hamid said nowadays many countries in the world are exporting e-wastes while many spare parts are being produced from the recycling of electronic waste.
He noted that Bangladesh has also framed the E-waste Management-2021 Regulations for the management of the risky electronic wastes.
Welcoming the initiative of Walton in this regard, he said the most modern technology should be used in E-waste management.
Power crisis will not last long: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said the ongoing power cuts in the country will not last long.
"We're sorry to our consumers for the current crisis and seek their cooperation to overcome it," he wrote in his verified Facebook page on Friday.
Nasrul made similar statements while talking to reporters at his residence earlier in the day.
He said the government was forced to implement a schedule-based power cuts across the country to resolve the ongoing crisis. "However, a new plan for load shedding will be undertaken within a week after taking stock of the situation."
Read: Bangladesh has no deficit in power generation: Nasrul Hamid
"Within the next few months, the second unit of Payra power plant and Rampal power plant will come into operation. Also, 1600MW electricity will be imported from India's Adani power plant soon. All these will add more than 4000MW electricity to the national grid," Nasrul added.
"So, we request you to be patient. We need your support at this difficult time."
Saving electricity: Bangladesh to begin daily one-hour staggered load-shedding from Tuesday
The government has decided to enforce a nationwide daily one-hour of staggered area-based power cuts from Tuesday as the country faces a fuel crunch disrupting power generation.“Primarily, we will conduct daily area-wise one-hour load-shedding on experimental basis. If needed, then after one week we will recast the decision” said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said at a press briefing in the afternoon at his ministry on Monday in a revised announcement.
Hours earlier the load-shedding was announced for two hours a day.
The earlier announcement was made by the Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury who said the rationing was needed to overcome the power crisis.The adviser announced the decision after a high level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office Monday morning. Nasrul Hamid and principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Ahmad Kaikaus also attended the meeting.Tawfiq-e-Elahi said the power distribution entities will conduct the load shedding under a schedule so that the people get time to take preparation for it and do not feel any disturbance.But in each spell, no load shedding will continue for more than half an hour, he said.
Also read: 2-hour area-based nationwide load shedding from TuesdayHe said the diesel-run power plants will remain closed until further order to save petroleum fuels while the shopping malls and markets will have to be closed by 8 pm.He said some options like keeping petrol pumps closed one day a week were discussed at the meeting.The adviser said the government office hours may be rescheduled while virtual meetings will be held instead of those with physical presence.Nasrul in his press briefing said no decision was made regarding closing of petrol pump a day in a week.Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation was asked to work out on the issue. They will take final decision after consultation with the transport operators.He also said the religious institutions like mosques, temples and churches were requested to go for taking power saving measures.They should keep operating air conditioners just during the prayer time.
Also read: Countrywide load-shedding increases due to gas shortage in power plantsHe said in no way markets and shopping malls be allowed to keep open after 8 pm.He said closure of diesel-run power plants will save 10 per cent petrol import and another 10 per cent could be saved through conservative consumption of diesel in transport sector. Officials said the country has about 10 diesel-run power plants having 1290 MW, mostly in private sector.
Italy keen to supply LNG to Bangladesh
Italy is keen to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Bangladesh.
Such interest of the European country was expressed when its ambassador to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata met State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at his office at the ministry on Thursday.
The Italian Envoy informed the state minister that its state coordinated energy company Eni SPA is interested to supply the LNG and also wants to work with Bangladesh to contribute in the field of sustainable energy, gas exploration, LNG and traditional refinery development, wind, hydrogen and new technology invention.
Also read: Global oil, LNG price hike impact Bangladesh: Momen
He also presented the current state of Italian companies’ operations in energy and technology sectors in Bangladesh.
The Italian envoy discussed different issues including decarbonsation, bio refining, development of renewable energy, hydrocarbon production.
Appreciating the Italian interest, Nasrul Hamid said the European company will be welcomed in Bangladesh.
He said the business model through which the Italian company wants to supply the LNG should be discussed at the expert level.
“Bangladesh and Italy can exchange their experiences in oil and gas exploration and also in the development of hydrogen fuel,” he said.
Also read: Bangladesh purchases LNG, fertiliser at lower rates as prices fall in global market
Both the nations would be benefited if such experiences are exchanged at the officials’ level under a certain framework, he added.
Senior Vice president of the International Affairs Analysis and Business Support Department of Eni SPA Marco Piredda, Vice President of the Business Development Department Mauro Rinaudo, were among others present in the meeting.
Nasrul Hamid’s prompt alert on temporary power disconnection in Sunamganj
The electricity supply to Sunamganj district and its adjacent area has been disconnected to avoid accidents as Chhatak and Sunamganj grid substations went under flood water.
Regretting the temporary inconvenience incurred by people due to the natural disaster, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid wrote from his verified Facebook account that the electricity supply would be restored as soon as the flood situation improves.
He also hinted about a possible power disconnection in Sylhet region since the switchyard of Kumargaon grid substation has also been flooded.
Bangladesh has no deficit in power generation: Nasrul Hamid
Too many trees in rural areas hamper uninterrupted supply of electricity though the country has no deficit in power production, State Minister for Power, Energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid told Parliament on Tuesday.
Responding to a tabled question from opposition Jatiya Party lawmaker from Pirojpur Rustam Ali Farazi, the state minister said that the is no deficit of power in country against the demand.
“As a result, there is no load-shedding due to the deficit in power production,” he said.
In response to a question from ruling party lawmake from Chattogram Mahfuzur Rahman, he said that before 2009 the number of people in the country with electricity facilities was 47 per cent.
In the last 13 years, he said, it has been possible to provide electricity to 100 per cent of the people.
The state minister further said that work is underway to bring 100 percent people under electrification under Bangladesh Power Development Board areas.
“It is expected to be completed by June 2023.”
He also said that it was possible to extend cent per cent electrification in all upazilas of the country except some remote areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Responding to a question from Ganoforum lawmaker elected from Sylhet Mokabbir Khan, the state minister said that the government subsidises captive rental or rented power plants every year to provide electricity to the people at affordable prices.
In the financial year 2019-20, Tk 1614 crore and in the financial year 2020-21 Tk 1036 crore has been given.
READ: Specific policy needed to ensure cyber security of power sector: Nasrul Hamid
Replying to a question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Natore Shafiqul Islam Shimul, the state minister said that according to the latest estimates, the total primary gas reserves is 39.9 trillion cubic feet.
The amount of proven and potential reserves to be extracted is 26.42 trillion cubic feet. After the extraction of 19.11 trillion cubic feet of gas from the beginning to last December 2021, the reserves in January 2022 amounted to 9.30 trillion cubic feet, he said.
In response to a question from Mohamamd Ebadul Karim, AL MP from Brahmanbaria, Nasrul said that at present an average of 2,303 million cubic feet of gas is being produced daily from domestic gas fields.
At present, according to the approved gas load of eight consumer classes, the daily demand is 3,600 million cubic feet. Efforts are being made to fill the deficit by importing about 650 million cubic feet of LNG gas daily due to low production from domestic gas fields, he said.
Responding to a question from the ruling party's MP from Dhaka Benazir Ahmed, the state minister said the number of gas wells in the 20 gas fields currently being produced in the country is 107.
The newly discovered Zakiganj gas field has an extractable gas reserve of 53.13 billion cubic feet, he added.
Replying to a question of ruling party MP from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said 4,095 metric tonnes of paper produced by Karnafuli Paper Mill remained unsold.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said that a letter was sent to the Department of Posts and Telecommunications to close down the links and cancellation of domain allocation of 179 online news portals that spread confusion among people.
The minister also said the measures were taken as per the instruction of the High Court and on the basis of information provided by the government's intelligence agencies.
In reply to a question from ruling Awami League MP from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, the information minister also said that process is going on to shut down several other online news portals for allegedly spreading false news, rumors and engaging in immoral activities.
The minister said that a letter was sent to the Department of Posts and Telecommunications on October 5, 2021 to close down the links and cancellation of domain allocation of 179 online news portals.
The information minister said the government has already taken various steps to shut down unregistered online news portals.
Replying to another question of AL MP from Dhaka Benazir Ahmed, the minister said that at present there are 1,126 daily, weekly and monthly newspapers publishing from Dhaka district.
Of these, he said, 499 are daily newspapers, 345 are weekly and 262 are monthly.