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Change Your Life! |
Prompt decision about gas export urgent |
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News |
June 29, 2000
Dhaka (UNB)- State Minister for Planning Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir acknowledged the urgency of a prompt decision about gas export, but said such a decision would be democratic considering domestic need, reserve, exploration pace and market prospect.
“Given the precious and non-renewable nature of our resources, we have to base our decision on the consent of the majority,” he told an international conference on “Gas and Development” here on Wednesday.
US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) jointly organised the conference at Sonargaon Hotel with Energy Secretary Dr Tawfique-E-Elahi Chowdhury in the chair.
Privatisation Board Chairman Kazi Zafarullah, US Ambassador in Dhaka John C Holzman, CSIS director Teresita C Schaffer and BCAS director Dr A Atiq Rahman also spoke at the function.
The conference is aimed at looking into experiences of other gas producing countries, especially Argentina and Bolivia, and help Bangladesh manage its own gas reserve.
Bangladesh has considerable potential for export of gas, but perceived reserve so far does not ensure continuing sizable export. The current Fifth Five-Year Plan stipulated exportation “within the framework of a pragmatic policy of ensuring national interest,” the minister said.
First element of national interest is to keep a reserve for 50 years’ domestic use and the second is the prospect of export to match import of oil and enable import of industrial capital goods that requires more than half a billion dollar annually, he explained.
Dr Alamgir felt that the delineated national interest would be met by accelerated exploration, which should precede exportation garnering profit and benefit for all.
The existing “sequential difference” with the IOCs’ expectation will narrow down if exploration is accelerated adequately to meet the perceived need for the present and 50 years hence, he hoped.
Privatisation Board Chairman Kazi Zafarullah said a concrete strategy should be articulated to convert idle gas reserve to potential resource for rapid economic growth.
Future economy depends on the planned use of gas resource and any delay in decision making, he said, will lead to minimising the prospect of the sector.
Energy Secretary Dr Tawfique-E-Elahi Chowdhury said the government wants to deal with the subject professionally after having a scientific assessment of the gas resource.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Petrobangla would jointly undertake a study on gas reserve to help the government plan for economic use of the resource, he said.
Dr Elahi said there would be a study to see the feasibility of exporting electricity to India.
He informed that the government drafted a regulatory law for electricity and another one for gas, which will be needed for both the IOCs and domestic users.
US Ambassador John C Holzman said India could be one of the biggest markets if Bangladesh decides to export gas. He referred to US supports in studying gas reserve and possible usage of the resource.
He termed gas as the real opportunity for Bangladesh and added that American companies are basically interested in gas here.
CSIS director Teresita C Schaffer suggested that Bangladesh could allow companies to export gas from their own share in new fields after preserving the gas fields developed before 1990 as “strategic reserve” for domestic use.
She expected an early decision in principle to harness the “eager and active” market in India, as there are also other potential sellers.
She also proposed some reform measures, including stripping Petrobangla of its monopoly in gas operations and purchase.
The retired US diplomat also suggested that an Energy Development Fund be established to finance high priority development projects.
The Fund should have an independent Board of Directors comprising representatives from government, all major political parties, major NGOs and an international auditing firm, she said.
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