The government is going to install 650,000 more pre-paid smart meters aimed at preventing the wastage and theft of natural gas, and reduce system losses.
The installation of prepaid gas meters will cut customers’ cost, and also reduce gas wastage, officials said.
The monthly rent of these meters installed to prevent gas wastage at the household level will be Tk 200.
A project has been proposed to the planning commission at the estimated cost of Tk 2,283 crore, an official of planning commission said. Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) intends to implement the project from January 2024 to December 2028, he added.
This initiative will be taken under the newly proposed ‘Smart Metering Energy Efficiency Improvement Project Installation of Prepaid Gas Meter’ project, he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of Tk 1,945 crore for the project.
According to the project proposal, Titas affiliated Metro Dhaka Marketing (South) and Regional Marketing (Narayanganj) areas will reduce the company’s system loss by preventing the wastage of gas used at the household level and increase the awareness of gas usage among residential customers by implementing the project.
Besides, the positive impact on the environment and the management efficiency of the company will increase.
According to TGTDCL, the life time of the meter in the proposed project is fixed at 10 years. The monthly rent per meter from the customer is fixed at Tk 200. In this regard, the Planning Commission has asked to further discuss the basis of determining monthly rent per meter and the determination of meter rent for all companies under Petrobangla.
At present, the customer has to pay a fee of Tk 100 for the prepaid gas meter.
The Planning Commission's Industries and Energy Division has already prepared a working paper for the Project Appraisal Committee meeting on the proposed project. The commission will discuss various issues including rationally reducing the cost of various sectors of the project.
Head of the Planning Commission’s Industry and Energy Department (Additional Secretary) MdMostafizur Rahman said that the project will be discussed in detail in the PEC meeting, where those concerned will be present.
Regarding the rent of two hundred taka per meter per month, he said, it is not a single decision. It will be decided after discussion in the PEC meeting, he mentioned.
In the proposed DPP, Tk 3.35 crore has been proposed for the purchase of one jeep (2700 cc), four double cabin pick-ups (2500 cc) and 25 motorcycles (125 cc).
Overall objectives of the project are to help Bangladesh achieve sustainable development goals by ensuring efficient use of gas and preventing wastage of gas used in the residential phase of TITAS affiliated areas. Installation of pre-paid gas meters will save gas by preventing gas wastage, reduce system losses and improve customer service quality.
