System loss in gas distribution comes down to 7.5pc from 22pc: Nasrul

System loss in the gas distribution segment has been brought down to 7.5 per cent now, from 22 per cent two years ago.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid disclosed this while visiting the headquarters of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited in the city on Thursday, reports UNB. 

“Now our target is to bring the system loss to a zero level in the next two years," he said, giving a description of the recent moves of the Titas Gas Company.

Titas has been the largest entity in the gas distribution segment, having about 2.8 million retail consumers, out of a total of 4.8 million in the country.

The state minister said that in the last two years, a total of 865,000 illegal gas connections have been snapped. Of this, 336 are industrial connections, 475 are commercial connections, 97 are captive power plants, and 13 are CNG stations.

“A total of 989 kilometres of illegal pipelines have been removed, and Tk 6.04 billion (604 crore) has been fined from the illegal consumers”, he added.

Briefing reporters, Nasrul said the government has been intolerant in taking action against illegal connections.

He, however, admitted that some influential quarters, including local lawmakers, public representatives of different levels, have been the main impediments.

“But mind it, the minister of the energy and power ministry is the Prime Minister herself, and she has strong directives to remain uncompromising in this regard," he said.

Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker and Titas managing director Engr Md Haronur Rashid Mullah were present on the occasion.

Nasrul informed that the Titras Gas Company has initiated a move to implement a Tk 120 billion (12,000 crore) project in the areas under Dhaka and Narayanganj cities to replace the old pipelines to stop gas leakages.

Apart from this, Titas Gas has been negotiating with different donor agencies, including Asian Development Bank, World Bank and JBIC of Japan, to install pre-paid gas metres to reduce system loss in gas consumption.

Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath said that all the distribution and transmission companies have installed metres to ensure accountability in gas trading among them.