LPG cylinders being sold at Tk 100-200 more than fixed price: state minister

LPG cylinders are being sold at Tk 100-200 more than the prices fixed by the government, State minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said today.

"It's a huge amount of money. We need to think about how we can provide LPG to consumers at a reasonable price. There is no other option to ensure the fixed price in this sector," he said at a workshop titled "Secured Uses of LPG Cylinders in Hotels and Restaurants".

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) organised the workshop in the capital's TCB Bhaban.

Nasrul Hamid also said the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) operators have dealers throughout the country. The dealers appoint agents, and the agents appoint sub-agents. As a result, the LPG price increases, he added.

"The BERC is monitoring the market properly. But it's the responsibility of the dealers to ensure fixed prices in their respective areas. BERC should also find a way to bring the dealers under their regulatory process."

According to the state minister, the yearly demand of LPG was 66,000 tonnes in 2009, which now stands at over 14 lakh tonnes a year.

The minister added, "We see cylinders in front of hotels and restaurants without any security measures ... Any kind of accidents can happen at any time."

BERC Chairman Nurul Amin presided over the workshop where the Secretary of the Energy Division Nurul Alam and Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker joined. The keynote paper was presented by former Buet professor Maksud Helali.