Bangledesh (BERC) urged to build inter-country energy cooperation

Sep 8, 2011 - thefinancialexpress-bd.com

Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury Monday urged the country's energy regulator to build inter-country cooperation with the regulators of the neighbours.

"Cooperation among the energy regulators of the neighbouring countries is necessary to ensure regional or sub-regional assistance in the energy sector," Chowdhury said.

There are challenges towards building inter-country energy cooperation but they need to be addressed, he said.

The energy adviser was speaking at a national seminar titled, "Energy management and development: Role of regulator," as the chief guest. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) organised the seminar at a city hotel.

State Minister for Power and Energy Mohammad Enamul Haque was the special guest at the seminar, chaired by BERC Chairman Syed Yusuf Hossain. USAID Bangladesh Mission Director Richard Greene was the guest of honour.

Pointing to the country's poor electricity supply situation Chowdhury said the country's per capita energy consumption is 10 per cent of China and three per cent of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

The government has, however, targeted to ensure electricity for all through producing 20,000 mw of electricity by 2021.

Currently less than half of the country's population has access to electricity, he said.

But electricity supply can provide a whole set of social benefits like increase of working hours, change in lifestyle, reduction of mortality rates, he said.

Enamul Haque urged the BERC to discharge its duties properly to help develop the country's power and energy sector.