Group advocates using local coal for Bangladesh power generation

The International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh reietrated that the cheapest option for the country to meet its increasing energy need is to use local coal forpower generation.

“If mined through applying modern technology as used elsewhere, the country can ensure generation of in-expensive power,” the ICCB said.

According to Power Sector Master Plan, local coal is considered as 60 percent of the total energy source for generating 20,000MW coal-fired electricity by 2030 for 50 years or so.

“Bangladesh is a rare example of a country that does not use its excellent coal for power generation,” the ICCB said.

Citing experts’ opinion, the ICCB said there is no alternative to go for gas and coal as fuel for power generation to avoid “monumental expenditure on subsidy”.

Otherwise, it said, the government would have no option than to bear huge subsidy burden for producing and buying electricity at higher prices and selling it at subsidized rates.

The subsidy, according to a World Bank report, was nearly taka 56 billion or around 0.7 percent of gross domestic product in 2011-12 financial year.

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