A special committee of the Jatiya Sangsad has recommended expanding the strategic fuel reserve to a minimum of three months' capacity to address fuel crises. The committee also suggested diversifying import sources and implementing other measures to ensure long-term energy security. The recommendations were presented by the Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud on Sunday.
The committee, formed on April 26 to suggest measures to tackle the recent fuel situation, held two meetings. It emphasized the need for structural reforms, infrastructure development, ensuring diversified energy sources, and adopting an integrated national plan for long-term energy security.
Other recommendations include fully automating the fuel supply system with digital monitoring, strengthening legal measures to prevent illegal stockpiling and smuggling, increasing the use of alternative fuels (LNG, renewable energy), expediting the Dhaka-Chittagong pipeline and SPM project, and implementing ERL-2. The committee also suggested enhancing public awareness campaigns, conducting necessary research on fuel imports through private institutions alongside the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, and making rooftop solar panel installation mandatory.
Opposition party members on the committee proposed 10 additional recommendations, including conducting a government-independent expert committee survey for electricity and fuel demand forecasting, maximizing coal use due to its cost-effectiveness, increasing domestic gas supply and production, strengthening fuel import and refining infrastructure, and increasing solar power generation. They also suggested reducing vehicle use in government offices during fuel crises, maximizing vehicle seat capacity, and developing a strategic roadmap for sustainable fuel and electricity supply in consultation with experts, institutions, and opposition parties.
