Power generation with imported fuel
The consumption of power per person in any country is considered as a yardstick of development.
But in the context of Bangladesh, we cannot afford to generate electricity with the costly “ Rental Power” generator.
A decade back, Bangladesh used to import oil to the tune of 25- 28 lakhs tonne where about 60% of the total was diesel and of which 70% was for agriculture for running of tubewells to cater for the needs of irrigation.
Now, we understand annual import of petroleum will rise to the level of 69 -70 lakhs tonne and rental power alone will require about 22lakhs tonne per year for quick generation of power and which will ultimately burden the user. The international price of petroleum is the most unstable commodity and none of our cost calculations can accommodate the variant nature of price.
We, therefore, need to harness our great reserve of coal and with urgent priority to formulate coal policy with the help of national and international expertise to generate power with coal.
The coal generation power plant will reduce the cost to half or even less.
The statistics shows that ,for generation of power coal is used as fuel as much as 81% by China,76% by Australia, 94% by south Africa, 64% by India while the U.K's consumption is not readily available.
We feel that, by the process of rental power plant the country is jumping from fry pan to fire.
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