Load-shedding is continuing to disrupt daily life all across the country.
Petrobangla is unable to supply enough gas to the Power Development Board. The future of industries who rely on PDB and the Rural Electrification Board for power is being put at risk by an irrational and wasteful approach to pricing energy.
The economy needs reliable power supplies to support industrial growth. Without creating more jobs and raising living standards, we will not be able to build the increased resilience Bangladesh urgently needs to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change.
By artificially keeping the costs of fuel oil, diesel, and electricity low, the government encourages waste and discourages investment in alternative energy sources. The best way to rectify this is to make consumers pay the proper price for power.
Petrobangla should increase the price of gas. This will not only save taxpayer money, which can be better invested in education and development, but it will also generate funds to develop more gas fields.
Otherwise, PDB will not be able to afford to get the gas it needs, and our industrial growth will continue to be crippled by power shortages and load-shedding.
It is notable that energy prices are higher in India and China. Their governments have accepted that high energy prices are necessary to fund investment in new power plants and fuel resources.
As long as our gas and electricity are sold too cheap, we will continue to experience unnecessary power shortages.
