Staff Correspondent:

Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said that they want to keep load shedding at a limited level during this summer.

“Our projection is 18,000 megawatts of electricity. We are hopeful that we will be able to manage it to a large extent. Load shedding will remain at a tolerable level.”

He made these remarks on Saturday afternoon while speaking at a seminar titled ‘Pathways to Overcome the Energy Crisis’ organized by the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) at the Power Development Board (PDB) building.

Fouzul Kabir said that there will be coordination between rural and urban areas. “We will be able to import fuel. We must ensure electricity supply. This is a short-term government. In the energy sector, everything takes time. We are not taking up any tasks that we cannot complete. Our priority is to clear the arrears. No country will continue business if bills are not paid.”

The adviser also said that electricity system losses must be reduced by 50 percent within the next two months.

He said no one participated in the bidding for oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal. After the ministry’s final approval, re-tendering will be conducted.