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The government has simplified the industrial gas distribution system, including the transfer of unused gas load to factories located in the same premises and ownership, aiming to make the services more customer-friendly amid increasing demands for gas.
The Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Monday issued a circular in this regard outlining the revised guidelines to address challenges.
Leaders of the country’s primary textile mills welcomed the move, saying the reforms would help enhance productivity, reduce costs, and streamline operations, particularly for the energy-intensive textile and garment industry.
Industrial units can rearrange or replace gas equipment, keeping the approved hourly load unchanged, according to the circular.
The commissioning work must be done by a contractor enlisted with the relevant gas company, while no permission from the gas distribution company will be required, it added.
However, unused gas load can be transferred to units located in the same premises and under the same ownership, provided with approval from the managing director or regional head of the respective gas distribution company.
Industrial units in the same premises and ownership can transfer the gas load allocated under the captive power category to the industrial category within the same premises and ownership.
But no load under the industrial power category could be transferred to captive ones.
The circular further stated that gas distribution and marketing companies must verify the quality of meters within seven days of the installation.
Welcoming the moves, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) in a statement issued on Monday termed the measures ‘positive and timely’.
The reforms in the energy sector would help increase productivity, reduce costs and make energy management more effective in the country's textile and apparel sector.
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