KGDCL asked not to provide a gas connection without legal documents: Significant adjustment of fuel oil prices from today
Staff Reporter :
A significant adjustment will be made to fuel oil prices in the country, while no gas connections will be given to any consumer located in designated areas without legal documents.
This was said by State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid to the reporters following a visit to the Padma Oil Company Ltd. in Patenga, Chattogram, on Wednesday.
Hamid revealed plans for a new automatic pricing system based on international market trends.
Under this system, fuel oil prices will be adjusted on a monthly basis, with the first adjustment set to take effect on Thursday.
In addition to the fuel pricing update, Hamid also emphasised the importance of adhering to legal protocols regarding gas connections.
He directed the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company (KGDCL) authorities to refrain from providing gas connections to consumers located in designated areas without proper legal documentation.
Nasrul Hamid said, “We want to provide reliable and affordably priced fuel and electricity. There is going to be a big change in the prices of fuel oil from tomorrow [Thursday].”
He emphasised the potential for cost savings through the automation of management and administration, suggesting that prices could decrease further if the global market remains stable.
The State Minister said all the gas consumers will be brought under the prepaid metre system, as KGDCL has installed 60,000 prepaid metres and the installation of another one lakh prepaid metres is underway.
“The government is committed to ensuring smooth and improved services to gas and electricity consumers. We are also taking various initiatives to ensure uninterrupted power and gas supply,” he added.
Mentioning the Bailey Road fire incident that took 46 lives, the state minister warned all his oil and gas companies to take security measures and ensure fire extinguishers to avoid any untoward situation.
As part of the government campaign for digitization, he inaugurated a data centre for prepaid gas metres under the KGDCL.
The state-run gas company has 6,02,396 consumers, and the gas pipeline is 3,236 kilometres.
Earlier on Tuesday, Nasrul Hamid hinted at a slight reduction in the prices of petrol, octane, diesel, and kerosene as part of the initial price adjustment under the new system, though specific details on the price reduction were not provided.
Based on a decision taken on August 30, 2022, diesel and kerosene are priced at Tk 109 per litre, petrol at Tk 125 per litre, and octane at Tk 130 per litre.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division released guidelines for month-to-month price adjustments at the beginning of March as part of its plans.
