UNB, Dhaka
The government will gradually halt gas supply to all the fertiliser factories except Jamuna Fertiliser Factory in the coming summer to divert it to irrigation pumps and power plants.
Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury disclosed this while briefing reporters at Buduyt Bhaban in the city on five new power projects which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate on Thursday through a video conference. “Our main priority is to ensure maximum power supply to irrigation pumps during the summer for food (paddy) production,” Taufiq-e-Elahi said.
This is, however, not the first time the government has taken such a decision as it has been doing so for the last five years to facilitate irrigation during the summer. Officials said if the gas supply to seven fertilizer factories, out of eight, is halted, the power plants will get additional 225 million cubic feet of gas a day (mmcfd) which will enhance power generation by 500 MW. The country’s irrigation season normally starts in March and continues till June, and the government has to supply additional 2000 MW electricity to irrigation pumps.