Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will begin a four-day public hearing from February 2 on the gas price hike proposals submitted by six state-owned gas distribution companies.
It will also hold a hearing on gas transmission tariff.
The hearing will take place at the TCB Bhaban in the capital’s Karwan Bazar.
Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) has proposed that the BERC raises gas transmission tariff.
“The hearing will end on February 5 and the final decision will be made afterwards,” BERC Chairman AR Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
The six gas distribution firms earlier submitted their proposals after the government decided to increase gas prices.
According to their proposals, domestic users will have to pay Tk1,000 every month instead of Tk450 for each double burner, which is a 122.22% hike.
On the other hand, Tk850 has been proposed for single burner, which stands at Tk400 at present. The proposed price is 112.5% higher than the existing figure.
Consumers using meter-based burners will have to pay Tk235 instead of Tk146.25 per month – a 60.68% increase from the previous price.
A hike of 102.94% has been proposed for captive powers (privately-owned smaller power plants) – Tk240 from Tk118 for 1,000 cubic feet of gas.
Tk84 for every 1,000 cubic feet of gas has been proposed for power plants, which was is Tk79.82 presently.
Prices of gas will rise to Tk350 from Tk268.09 (30.55% hike) for commercial users, Tk200 from Tk165.91 (20.55%) for tea gardens, Tk905.92 from Tk651.29 (39.10%) for CNG filling stations and Tk1,132.67 from Tk849.50 (33%) for CNG at consumer level.
Fertiliser companies will have to pay Tk80, which is currently Tk72.92 (9.71%), while the tariff for industrial users will reach Tk220 from the existing Tk165.91 (32.60%).
The distribution companies also urged the BERC to make the proposed tariff effective from February 1.
The hearing on proposals of the GTCL will be held on February 2, while that of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd and Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited will be held on February 3.
The hearing on Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited proposals will be held on February 4.
On the concluding day, hearing on proposals of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited and Sundarban Gas Company Limited will be held.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance had threatened to announce non-stop programmes if gas and electricity prices were hiked.
Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal also threatened to call a countrywide general strike if the government did not cancel its plan to raise gas, liquid fuel and electricity prices.
