New gas prices for industries will be announced today, Sunday (April 13). The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will issue an order regarding Petrobangla's application for increased gas prices for new industrial customers.
The new prices will be announced through a press briefing at the BERC office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, at 3 PM on Sunday (April 13).
According to BERC sources, industrial customers currently pay 30 taka per cubic meter of gas. Existing industries will continue to receive gas at this rate. However, for new connections, the price may range from 40 to 45 taka.
Petrobangla had proposed increasing the price for new and committed customers while keeping the existing customer prices unchanged (30 taka for industries and 31.75 taka for captive power).
For committed customers (already approved), they proposed half the bill at the existing rate and the other half at 75.72 taka.
On the other hand, they proposed increasing the price for new industrial and captive gas from 30 and 31.75 taka to 75.72 taka respectively.
BERC held a hearing on Petrobangla's price increase proposal on February 26. 1 Petrobangla stated in their proposal that they would face an annual deficit of approximately 16,000 crore taka if the price is not increased.
Petrobangla's proposal sparked widespread criticism. Business leaders and trade organizations strongly objected during the hearing. In particular, everyone opposed the idea of two different prices for industries.
Many objected to the two different prices for industries during the hearing. They argued that setting higher prices for new industries while keeping the existing industry prices unchanged would create unfair competition.
