LPG operators demand one-stop service
Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector have called for the introduction of a one-stop service and digital licensing system, saying complex regulations and lengthy approval processes are slowing investment and hindering the sector’s safe development.
The demand came at a roundtable on the LPG industry jointly organised by Energy and Power and the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) at the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) headquarters on Sunday.
Speaking at the programme, BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed said LPG consumption is expanding rapidly in households, businesses and industries, but safety oversight and policy coordination have failed to keep pace, raising serious concerns.
He cautioned that the unchecked growth of LPG use, particularly the installation of multiple cylinders in residential buildings, could lead to major safety incidents.
Pointing to inadequate safety management and delays in services from the Department of Explosives, Jalal underscored the importance of stronger coordination among regulators and industry players, alongside wider awareness campaigns and training initiatives to support the sector’s orderly and safe expansion.
LOAB President Mohammad Amirul Haque said demand for LPG autogas increased after the government stopped approving new CNG stations and residential gas connections around 2009–10 due to shortages in natural gas supply.
He noted that nearly 1,000 LPG autogas stations received approval under the LPG Autogas Station Installation and Operation Policy 2016.
However, many investors later struggled to obtain operational licences because of complex rules and prolonged approval procedures.
According to LOAB, about 700 autogas stations are currently operating without licences from the Department of Explosives and BERC.
Entrepreneurs must obtain clearances from several agencies including the Fire Service, Department of Environment and Roads and Highways Department leading to delays, added costs and administrative complications.
The association said roughly Tk1,500 crore has been invested in nearly 1,000 LPG stations across the country, while around 200,000 vehicles have already been converted to LPG.
To address the challenges, LOAB proposed policy simplification, automated digital licensing, establishment of a unified regulatory authority offering one-stop services, and relaxation of dealership rules to allow station owners to source LPG from alternative suppliers during shortages.
BUET Professor Yasir Arafat Khan, BERC Member (Petroleum) Sultana Razia and Energy and Power Editor Molla Amzad also addressed the discussion.
