If necessary, we won’t use electricity during daytime: Tawfiq-e-Elahi

Prime Minister's Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi has said as uncertainty looms over country’s fuel stock, we may stop electricity use during the daytime.

He said: "If we import 200 MMcf of gas for the next six months at the current spot market rate, it will cost about $1.2 billion more than long-term LNG. But the government is not in a position to invest this amount." 

"If necessary, we might have to refrain from using any electricity during the daytime."

Tawfiq-e-Elahi said this while speaking at a discussion meeting on "Mitigation of the Impact of Energy Crisis on the Industrial Sector" organised by Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) on Sunday. 

Regarding the current power crisis, he said:"Within the next two to three months, 80 million cubic feet of gas will be shipped from the Bhola gas field and added to the national grid."

He also said that some coal-based power plants will come into production by next December.

"Then we can reduce the gas supply for electricity generation and give some gas for industrial use," he added. 

 Urging the countrymen to be reasonable while using power, he said: "We can refrain from using air conditioners to save some five to six megawatt electricity per day."

"We didn’t have any electricity connection when we got liberated from Pakistan. We survived then and if we want, we can still manage everything without electricity supply," he added.

"None of us know in which direction the global situation will go. So everyone should be prepared," Tawfiq-e-Elahi added.