Rampant gas theft and poor coordination remain major obstacles to Bangladesh’s power and energy sector, officials and experts said at a seminar on Monday.
Former Petrobangla Director Kamruzzaman revealed that Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company loses nearly 150 million cubic feet of gas daily, excluding technical losses, resulting in an estimated 100 million cubic feet stolen and a financial loss of around Tk 400 crore annually. He criticized officials, including secretaries, for prioritizing gas connections over curbing theft.
The seminar, titled “Challenges and Solutions: Energy and Power Sector of Bangladesh,” was held at the BIPRC conference room and presided over by BIPRC Chairman Mohammad Wahid Hossain.
Hossain noted that while the Power Development Board provides no guarantees, there is little visible commitment to solar energy.
“Without proper coordination, real development is impossible. Some suggest merging the Power and Energy divisions could help,” he said.
He also expressed doubt about extracting coal from Phulbari, suggesting that allowing power plants to use their own coal reserves would be more practical.
Senior Secretary and NPID Director-General Siddique Zubair stressed that while numerous studies have been conducted, their findings are rarely applied in decision-making. “Energy sector development must be taken beyond political influence, or recommendations will remain ineffective,” he said.
Energy expert Dr. Ijaz Hossain warned of a steep decline in gas production and urged preparations for a potential crisis. He also noted that if hydrogen becomes cost-effective from batteries by 2035, it should be adopted, while waste-to-energy initiatives remain under performing.
BERC Director (Electricity) Rezaul Karim Khan said that energy auditing is now mandatory for license issuance, and no license is granted if efficiency falls below 70 percent.
The seminar’s keynote paper was presented by BIPRC Director (Innovation) Dr. Hasan Mahmud, under the moderation of BIPRC member Dr. Rafiqul Islam.
Other participants included former GTCL Managing Director Atikuzzaman, former BERC member Engineer Mizanur Rahman, Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh Chairman Md Shamim Jahangir, FERB Executive Director Serajul Islam Siraj, and senior journalist Shahnaj Begum.