Hearing on proposed gas price hike starts today

The proposals was submitted by seven state-owned gas transmission and distribution companies to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC). An official of BERC said the hearing will take place at the TCB auditorium in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar. It will also hold a hearing on gas bulk tariff. Different consumer right groups, including Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (CAB), social organizations, left-leaning political parties have registered their names to participate in the hearing to oppose gas utilities' hiked price proposals. The seven companies earlier submitted their proposals after the government decided to increase gas transmission and gas prices. The hearing on proposals of the Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) will be held today, while that of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd will be held on August 8 and Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited will be held on August 10. The hearing on Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited will be held on August 11 and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited proposals will be held on August 14. The hearing on proposals of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited will be held on August 16 and Sundarban Gas Company Limited will be held on August 17. The bulk tariff hearing of Petrobangla, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited, Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited and Sylhet Gas Fields Limited will be held on August 18. Other companies including Petrobangla submitted their proposals to increase gas bulk tariff. According to their proposals, domestic users will have to pay Tk1,200 every month instead of Tk650 for double burners, which is an 85% hike in price. On the other hand, Tk1,100 has been proposed for single burners, from the current Tk600. Consumers using meter-based burners will have to pay Tk16.80 instead of Tk7 for per cubic metre of gas, an increase of 140%. The proposals also asked to increase gas prices for commercial use, in power plants and tea gardens. Fertiliser companies and industrial users will also face a price hike under the new proposal. Gas Transmission Company Limited has proposed that the BERC raise gas transmission tariff from Tk0.1565 to Tk0.4213 per cubic metre. In February last year, the BERC organised a series of public hearings after the state-owned gas distribution companies pressed to have gas tariffs increased. After the hearings, the government increased gas prices from September 1 last year.