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Opinion

Consensus to check energy system loss

Md. Ziaul Islam
The people of Bangladesh are blessed with natural gas energy resource. Implementing pragmatic future policy regarding better utilisation of natural gas can play a vital role in our sustainable growth in the energy sector. The advantage of using versatile natural gas such as methane as a fuel is that when methane is burnt in presence of air, the combustible by-product is free from oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, and also contains negligible amount of particulate matters. Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur as well as particulate matters increasing day by day in the atmosphere can pose vulnerable health hazard in the long run. If we do not take positive steps to control misuse of our natural gas reserve in this volatile international energy market then the country may face serious consequences in the future.
For better understanding of this problem, let us at first take into account the electricity supply system loss. The people of Bangladesh are envisaging about 30 percent system loss problem in electricity supply system. This system loss is mainly due to the following facts
(1) The government management is facing difficulty in tracing or tracking down undocumented electricity connections taken from the main source lines by some miscreants who are pilfering the supply.
(2) Millions of dollars pending electricity bills the government management is having
difficulty to collect.
(3) Some negligent and dishonest meter reading inspectors linked with some corrupt officials working in electricity supply companies are playing their part in this system loss issue.
Modernised preventive government management and policy should be introduced to subdue corruption loss. Electronic card system such as debit card or some other advanced computer based electronic device to track down illegal electric connection lines may help mitigate this system loss.
Now let us consider the system loss of natural gas supply through pipelines for domestic purposes in houses, restaurants, hotels and hospitals. System loss in natural gas sector is much higher than electricity because of the following reasons-
(1) The consumers are deliberately or carelessly misusing natural gas. It is noticed that some consumers are keeping the gas burners or ovens on even at time when they are not cooking. Some consumers are misusing natural gas in drying up wet clothes or trying to keep their rooms warm during the winter.
(2) Indifference and lack of awareness towards usefulness of natural gas is a prevailing practice among the consumers.
(3) The government management and policy makers are facing difficulty to trace or detect undocumented gas connection lines.
(4) The government management is having difficulty to control corruption in the natural gas sector.
(5) Pipeline leakage loss is usually not repaired in time.
Underthese circumstances if gas meters are introduced then gas misuse may be reduced to a certain extent, however it is not significant enough to prevent major system loss. We know that some reputed companies are doing monopoly business by supplying compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid petrol gas (LPG) in portable cylinders. If the government makes the market more competitive by encouraging many other companies to come forward supplying gas by cylinder then the price of gas in cylinder can also be reduced significantly that will certainly have positive influence on our economy. Mandatory gradual change of gas supply system from pipeline to cylinder can significantly reduce the system loss in the natural gas sector. For the sake of national interest, the domestic consumers enjoying natural gas supply facility via pipeline system need to take initiative and comply with the cylinder gas system guided by their own conscience.
The quality of gas cylinder and its accessories must meet the present international safety standards to avoid contingency mishap. Each gas cylinder is quite heavy to carry by any individual person. Each company needs to have meticulous plan for supplying gas cylinders to different grocery shops in the residential and commercial areas so that the consumers never feel shortage of supply. The grocery shops
qualifying to sell gas cylinders must have well planned facilities for delivering the products to their respective customers' destination. The consumers can assist in bearing the expenditure of the gas cylinder and its accessories so that this issue does not become a financial encumbrance to the government.
In the case of industrial purpose, it is convenient to supply natural gas via pipelines with three gas meters installed at each pipeline connection to prevent system loss. The government agency, the supplier and the consumer each should install their own gas meters to monitor system loss.
If we can prevent system loss in the natural gas sector then gradually we will be able to proliferate our capability of supplying gas throughout the whole country. We need to make constructive decision. Confidence building motivational strategy in the energy sector can be conducive to economic growth. God helps those who help themselves. Many countries are helping themselves conserving fuel energy by using gas cylinder instead of gas pipeline system. The government in power may feel the risk of becoming unpopular trying to implement this project. Therefore, the government in power and the opposition parties need to settle their differences and work together to make it successful.
Md. Ziaul Islam is a mechanical engineer and a teacheratAmerican InternationalSchool, Dhaka.