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National Budget 2009-2010 in Bangladesh



Finance Minister of Bangladesh Mr AMA Muhith has just placed the National Budget Proposal to Parliament for the fiscal year 2010-11. This is the first time in the history of Bangladesh any budget is placed using power points in a digital format. Bangladesh is passing through desperate energy crisis. Confronting energy crisis is definitely among the priority objective of the government for the unhindered growth of targeted GDP. So as Energy Professional our interest is the allocation for Power and Energy. 

We all know that confronting the prevailing and emerging power supply crisis is the major challenge of the present government. It is encouraging to note that Government has identified power sector as the top priority sector and reiterated government’s commitment to present load shedding free Bangladesh by 2012.The budget speech contained the following Demand supply forecast over the present tenure of the government. FM has also underlined government plan for LNG import, Open pit coal mining and has allotted Tk 6,115 Crore Taka for the 2010-11 fiscal year for power sector.

Although allocation for power sector is about 60% higher than previous year it is much lower than allocations for some other sectors. The speech stated to take expedited actions for coal policy approval and LNG import, enhancing exploration for petroleum at onshore and offshore, encourage renewable energy use, settle maritime boundary dispute of Bay of Bengal.
While experts have cautiously welcomed the budget proposal .many expressed apprehension that government may find it extremely difficult to implement its power sector mega plan. Import of LNG over short term may not be feasible. Experts agree in general with the vision of generating 9426 MW new generation by 2015. But they feel that given the poor track record of power project development over 39 years since independence turning around will not be easy. .Nothing has changed in policy or management level to expect smart project implementation in the remaining period up to 2015. Major Inventors are yet to consider Bangladesh as safe heaven for energy sector investment. There is serious crisis of primary fuel. It will be extremely difficult to arrange required fuel for such major increase in power generation over short time.

Finance minister in his speech presented an energy sector road map. It correctly identified huge untapped coal reserve. But he also mentioned about anxieties about appropriate mining for extracting maximum resources. He felt the requirement of appropriate safety and environment management plan. He should have mentioned why government in 17 months failed to do that. Our own coal is our major fuel option .If appropriately mined ensuring proper impacts management in about 5-7 years our energy portfolio may be completely changed. Government must rely on Resident and non resident Bangladeshi real experts rather than relying on non professional beauracrat and opportunists.. Only genuine mine planners and professional miners know how to deal with mines in different circumstances.
The FM document states that present gas crisis could be mitigated through importing LNG by the next two years and building two LNG terminals to handle import of 500 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) capacity. The country’s on-going gas crisis is around 300 to 500 MMCFD.

The persons who advise government on importing LNG in two years must be telling fairy tales. Bangladesh will require huge investment to the tune of US1Billion to set up LNG import infrastructures. Then it has to pay about 10-12 US$ /MBTU LNG. Not only investment it will take at least 4-5 years to make all these happen. Even the detail feasibility study will take a year or so. LNG is not crude oil that it can be brought in normal oil tanker to Eastern refinery. Government can continue to pursue LNG import option. But accessing this in 2 years is impossible. The sooner government realise this better.

FM told the parliament of government vision to produce 9,426-megawatt power by 2015-which if accomplished would leave surplus power, instead of shortage.
He also stated that by 2012, enough power projects would be implemented to end the perennial load shedding that was impeding the investment environment in the country.
FM told about contingency actions to quickly make up the demand-supply gap. He said there was no option but to go for expensive diesel and furnace oil based rental power projects for short term. The government would have to subsidies the sector on one hand; increase the power tariff on the other.

However, the finance minister said that the price of power should be stabilized within 2014-15, when large coal-based cheaper power projects are expected to begin power generation–and thus reduce the overall cost. Acknowledging the prevailing energy crisis triggered by deficit in gas production, FM underlined the necessity for increasing gas production by investing in Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration Company, use of coal resources, import of LNG, saving power through demand management and power generation from renewable sources.

We agree with FM statement. But we feel enhancing gas exploration and development efforts and commencing extraction of coal by open pit method must be our priority actions. For these we need dynamic energy sector management of true professionals.
Realizing the necessity of the private sector in investing in the energy sector FM stated “It is to be noted that in future power supply under private sector initiative will significantly increase,” There must be effective private public partnership at all levels of energy value chain.

FM informed the parliament that, steps have been taken to minimize the gas crisis by 2013 when national companies would increase gas production by 265MMCFD, US company Chevron by 300 MMCFD and government would add another 500 MMCFD as imported LNG. By December this year, the national companies would increase gas production by 158 MMCFD.

Experts can not rely on 500MMCFD addition through LNG import. Evacuation of 300MMCFD addition by Chevron would remain a problem till transmission constraints are removed through setting up of compressor stations and construction of loop lines. Gas sector top management also needs to be overhauled with experienced professionals.Finance minister has rightly diagnosed the disease of energy sector and identified the medicine to cure. But we need the right surgeons to operate and right resources to obtain the medicine .Energy sector must be cured for the sake to national development. 

Summary:

The proposed budget for the 2010-11 FY shows an increase of 20.15 percent from the current year's revised budget.
Total outlay:
Tk 1,32,170cr
Interest payment: 11.1pc
Education & IT: 13.2%
Energy & Power: 4.6%
Agriculture: 5.4%
Social security & welfare: 7%
LGRD: 8.1%

Projections
GDP growth: 6.7%
Inflation: 6.5%
Income: Tk 92,847cr
Deficit: Tk 39,323cf
Domestic borrowing: Tk 23,680cr
Foreign borrowing: Tk 15,643cr
Revenue expenditure: Tk 93,670cr
ADP: Tk 38,500cr

Price Up:
Reconditioned cars: New budget’s proposal to reduce depreciation facilities for reconditioned cars from the current 50 percent to 25 percent means that they will become pricier.
Motor vehicles: Taxes for motor vehicles between 1000cc and 1500cc and microbuses below 1800cc will also increase.
Imported motor cycles.
Apartments : Muhith proposed a flat rate of direct tax at source for the next fiscal's budget. Real estate developers will have to pay tax at the time of registration of apartments or buildings. Tk 185.80 per square feet for apartments at posh residential areas, namely Gulshan Model Town, Banani, Baridhara, DOHS, Dhanmondi, Lalmatia, Uttara, Basundhara, Motijheel, Dilkusha, Dhaka Cantonment and Karwan Bazar, and Khulshi, Agrabad and Panchlaish of Chittagong. For all other areas, realtors will pay tax of Tk 74.32 per square feet.
Cigarettes/ bidis / gul, chewing tobacco: New taxes On cigarettes.
Air tickets.
Imported air-conditioners.
Imported refrigerators.
Imported papers will see their prices rise.
Juice, energy drink, fruit drinks, mineral water
Ceramics/ stones, tiles and mosaic, particle boards and laminated boards
Ceramic made bathtub and jacuzzi, sink, basin
Shampoo/Cosmetics
Filament bulbs
Paints

Price Down:

Locally manufactured refrigerators, freezers
Locally manufactured motor cycles
Energy-saving lamps
Plastic and rubber sandals
Coconut oil
Skimmed milk
LCD/LED panels are also expected to get less expensive.
2010-11 Budget at a Glance




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