A total of 60,000 domestic prepaid gas meters are going to be installed in Chittagong’s residential areas, with a view to checking gas pilferage and reducing waste.
Although a number of residential areas have been primarily selected for the new service, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited authorities have plans to install prepaid meters in the entire city.
The initially selected areas include Sholoshahar, Nasirabad, Khulshi, Lalkhan Bazar, Halishahar, Anderkilla, Kazir Dewri, Chandgaon, Chawk Bazar and Panchlaish.
The meters will be installed as part of the project titled ‘Natural Gas Efficiency Project’. The total cost of implementing the project has been estimated at around Tk246 crore, and is likely to be completed by 2018.
Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited officials said they were hopeful that successful completion of the project would reduce gas waste as well as the suffering of consumers to a large extent.
Consumers will be much more aware of gas usage with the introduction of the new system, they said, adding that the hassle of waiting for hours in queues to pay gas bill in the bank would be gone.
Also, consumers will be able to recharge their accounts the way they do for mobile phones. For this, recharge centres will be set up at 30 points in the city.
Engineer Khaiz Ahmed Majumder, director of the project, told the Dhaka Tribune the objective of the project is to improve efficient use and supply of natural gas by providing new facilities and thereby contributing to the country’s sustainable economic growth.
“The 60,000 prepaid gas meters will be installed in Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited franchise area. We have already submitted the development project proposal and the project consultant has also been appointed,” he said.
Khaiz said a significant amount of gas could be saved from each burner with the introduction of prepaid meters and that gas could be supplied to key industries such as electricity and fertiliser.
“Because this will be a prepaid system, consumers will have to pay before using gas. Also, there will be no way to use gas illegally,” he added.
Of the total cost of the project, the government will bear Tk814,542,000 while Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide Tk1,541,887,000. Also, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited will provide Tk109,188,000 from its own fund.
Meanwhile, city residents living in the residential areas have welcomed the introduction of the new service.
