A delegation of the Board of Directors of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce A Industry (DCCI) led by Its president A Rob Chowdhury, made a courtesy call on the Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources. Dr Khandaker Moaharraf Hossain yesterday at hts secretariat office, says a press release

The delegation Included SaJJatuz Jumma. senior vice president. Md Sirajuddln Malik, v^pe-president and directors A Y M Md Kamal. Mahbubuzzaman. Md Naairu-ddin Khan. AlhaJ Abdus Salam. Syed Zohirul Hoq and Abdul Malek.

The discussion with the minister was very fruitful. The DCCI president highlighted the problems of unscheduled and unpredictable power fall ures which have been causing serious problems for industries.

The DCCI president pointed

out that sensitive machinery, chemicals, raw materials, manufacturing inputs, perishable goods and frozen commodities worth inestimable amounts become vulnerable to Inadequate and unreliable electricity supply He also said that system losses In ihe power sector is about 40 per cent of gross generation of electricity in the country, more than al) of our neighbour Ing countries. Corruption. Ir regularities and abuse of power are perennial problems in this sector.

The delegation of the DCCI suggested that the government should Increase Its development allocation in the power sector to meet the shortage of 400 to 500 megawatt electric ity on a priority basis. The government should take drastic measures to eliminate corruption. wastage and inefficiency in the power sector. Above all. the government should take

Immediate steps to allow private firms to operate in the power sector A number of domestic and International companies are waiting for such permissions Government s inactions and indecision are causing delays in this regard. Privatisation can ensure competition. create scope for greater accountability and reduce chances for such power failures. Chamber representatives also strongly urged for early announcement of the country* Power Policy."

The Chamber believes that along with opening the power sector to private domestic and international Investment government can also take the ad vantage of flattened oil prices by allowing duty-free import of oil for generation of electricity. This will help In saving the nation's reserve of gas for future uses. At the same time, power generation from coal, solar sources, windmills, etc should be encouraged.