Port city's gas crunch

For the past week, Chittagong city residents have been forced to choose alternative, albeit more expensive, fuel sources to cook. Apparently the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd. (KGDCL) has tried and failed to supply requisite gas to residential areas. The shortfall of 50 million standard cubic feet per day has not been found despite rationing of power plants and fertiliser factory, and going by what has been carried in this paper, authorities are at a loss as to what to do. This is hardly a satisfactory state of affairs for the millions who call Chittagong their home.

With more gas being diverted to feed Meghna Power Station, there is less of the precious fuel to fire up stoves for residents. Although we understand that industry must get priority, the fact that Chittagong has been suffering from a chronic shortfall of gas supply is nothing new. For years, policymakers have failed to address the issue of energy inefficient power plants which have become gas guzzlers, wasting more of this precious fuel than necessary. Expert advice has been wilfully ignored and now we are witnessing the result of short sightedness.

With little in way of finding new and promising sources of gas, either on the mainland or offshore, the situation will only get worse. With a finite supply of gas now an established fact, is it not high time to make power plants more efficient in gas consumption? That would make life easier for both Chittagong residents and industry at large.