The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a 33% hike in gas prices for the industrial sector. The information was shared at an official press conference on Sunday.
At the press briefing, BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed confirmed the price increase, stating that the gas tariff for industrial consumers has been raised from BDT 30 to BDT 40 per cubic meter. For captive power users, the rate has been increased from BDT 30.50 to BDT 42.
Petrobangla had initially proposed keeping the prices for existing customers (industrial and captive at BDT 30 and BDT 31.75, respectively) unchanged, while significantly raising prices for new and approved (committed) consumers.
The proposal suggested that committed consumers pay half their bill at the existing rate, and the other half at BDT 75.72. For new industrial and captive consumers, the rate was proposed to be directly increased from BDT 30 and BDT 31.75 to BDT 75.72 per cubic meter.
BERC held a public hearing on the proposal on February 26. Petrobangla claimed that without the price increase, it would face an annual deficit of approximately BDT 160 billion. The proposal was met with widespread criticism.
Business leaders and industry representatives raised strong objections during the hearing, particularly against the idea of dual pricing within the same sector.
