Muhith: Using natural gas to cook is an absolute waste

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith yesterday remarked that the use natural gas for household chores is an absolute waste of the valuable resource. The minister made the statement while delivering his speech as the chief guest during a seminar organised on the occasion of “National Energy Security Day 2016” by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division at Petro Center in Dhaka. Muhit said that there will be a critical shortage of natural gas in the coming decades. “There is no point of spending our present natural gas for cooking. Our government has strongly decided against giving any new household connections and we will stick to that decision.” The finance minister suggested that Bangladesh has to take five steps for energy security in the near future. They are – complete stoppage of usage of gas for domestic purpose, emphasis on liquefied natural gas (LNG) import, prioritise offshore and onshore exploration, increased usage of renewable energy and prioritise research and development for manpower. Speaking on the occasion as special guest, Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury, energy advisor to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said to have energy security, one needs to have full control over the resources. “We now have control over our national resources because our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ensured that in August 9, 1975, a day which we observe as the National Energy Security Day.” He said, on that day in 1975, less than a week before Bangabandhu along with most of his family members were brutally killed, Bangabandhu inspired Bangladesh to acquire five largest gas fields – Titas, Habiganj, Bakhrabad, Rashidpoor and Koillastilla – from Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell BV for a mere 4.5 million pound sterling. He asked for purchasing oil and gas fields in other countries to ensure further energy security. “But we also have to understand that energy security is not an easy thing. The whole world is in turmoil centring energy security.” he added. The energy advisor also asked for innovative measures in the energy sector. “There is no doubt that for energy sector, we have to go through the traditional ways. But there is no harm in finding innovative methods." Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, said: “To ensure energy security, we are increasing our storage capacity.” “We now have a storage capacity of 45 days but soon we will try to increase that to 60 days.” He said that our future challenge in the energy sector lies in creating able human resource and in finding innovative financing. BPC Chairman Mahmud Reza Khan, Petrobangla Chairman Istiaque Ahmad and Director General of Geological Survey of Bangladesh Nehal Uddin also spoke on the occasion.