Chairman of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Jalal Ahmed has said that from now on, the concerned authorities must take approval from the commission before implementing any project in the power and energy sector.
“Separate letters will be sent to the Power Division as well as to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, asking them to take BERC approval before proceeding with any project,” he told reporters, while addressing a workshop on the activities and future plans of BERC at its conference room on Tuesday.
Referring to relevant sections of the BERC Act 2003, he said that it is an obligation of the concerned authorities to take approval from the regulatory body for any project that will have an impact on tariffs.
He noted that there might be questions about the BERC’s capacity to assess and scrutinize projects, but the commission will strive to overcome these shortcomings by improving its capabilities.
Jalal Ahmed, also a former chairman of Petrobangla and a former joint secretary of the energy division, said although the BERC Act 2003 empowered the regulatory body to enforce this practice, the previous body never implemented it.
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“We will try to enforce this practice so that projects are undertaken with proper justifications,” he said.
The BERC chairman also said that in the past, many projects were taken up without proper justification, and the current burden of capacity charges is the result of those unjustified projects.
He informed that the regulatory body will hold a preliminary hearing on February 26 regarding the acceptance of Petrobangla’s appeal to raise gas prices for additional gas to be used by industries.
Responding to a question about tax waivers on the import of electricity from the Adani Group, which gives an extra benefit to the Indian company, he said that the BERC can play an advisory role if the government seeks its opinion on the issue.
He said that the commission will meet with LPG importers to discuss their problems and resolve issues related to tariffs.
Jalal Ahmed informed that the BERC, which was reconstituted after the fall of the Awami League regime, will definitely play a positive role in upholding its independence if an enabling environment is provided.