Power capacity to rise to 15,000 MW by September

The total electricity generation capacity of Bangladesh will be nearly 15,000 megawatt (MW) by the middle of September with the addition of 218 MW to the national grid from next month, reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Isolux Ingenieria SA and Samsung C&T Corporation have been awarded to construct the power plant, which the agreement was signed on May 27, 2012. Meanwhile, the government as well as the Power Ministry has ensured tight security for the foreign partners so that they (foreigners) can construct the plant without hesitation. Talking to BSS State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has a target to generate 24,000 MW electricity by 2021 and bring all citizens under the coverage of electricity within the Vision 2021.
Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/08/02/147946

MCCI, textile millers criticize proposal of gas price hike

Gas price hike will leave a negative impact on businesses as such a move will raise the cost of doing business, a leading chamber said yesterday. The cost of transportation, production and electricity as well as overall food prices will increase with the gas price hike, said the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in a statement. The unplanned gas price hike will also negatively impact productivity and export of garment products, which will erode the country’s competitiveness in the global apparel market. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) increased gas prices by 26.29 percent in September last year, and any further hike within one year goes against the laws of the commission, the chamber said. According to a proposal of state-owned Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Ltd, the price of gas for household use should be raised 140 percent to Tk 16.8 per cubic metre. MCCI also suggested the government should increase the use of alternative energy to reduce dependence on natural gas. It is not possible to deal with the challenges of a gas crisis only by increasing gas prices, the chamber said. The crisis can be eased to some extent by fixing the problems by introducing a metre-based billing system, stopping illegal gas connections and reducing illegal gas bills, the chamber added.
Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/08/02/147976

Ports to cut 40.0% tariff for coastal ships

Seaports in Bangladesh will cut international tariff by 40% to facilitate transport of goods at low cost under the Indo-Bangladesh coastal shipping agreement, officials said. The Chittagong port will cut tariff on five items while the Mongla port on six items and the Paira port will also follow the same, they added. However, other ports of call for coastal vessels — Ashuganj, Narayanganj and Khulna river ports and Pangaon Inland Container Terminal — would not cut tariff as they only handle domestic vessels and goods. A seven-member tariff fixation committee, headed by additional secretary of the ministry of shipping (MoS) Abdul Quddus Khan, recently submitted a report in this regard to the secretary in line with the standard operating procedure (SoP) of the coastal shipping agreement. A senior MoS official told the FE that the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has agreed to reduce tariff by 40% on port dues charge, pilotage charge, tug, berthing and un-berthing and mooring occupancy charges. He said the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) will reduce tariff on six types of services like port dues charge, pilotage charge, tug hire charge, berthing charge, holiday charge and night charge.
Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/08/02/147968

Government to save ample money through open tendering

The government will be able to save a substantial amount of foreign currency by importing furnace oil under open tendering, as the state-run BPC got cheaper rate through the system compared to term deals, said officials. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) sought bids to import around 160,000 tons of 180 centistokes (cst) high sulfur fuel oil (furnace oil) from the international market last month to meet urgent need in Summer. Subsequently, it got the premium rate that is around one-third less than the term rate, said a senior BPC official. Singapore-based Vitol Asia Pte Ltd offered the best bid at a premium of USD 15.80 per ton to Mean of Platts Arab Gulf (MoPAG) 180 cst furnace oil assessments on a CFR (cost and freight) basis for delivery to Chittagong Port during August-December 2016, he said. Premium rate is a component of oil-pricing mechanism under CFR basis, which includes the costs of fuel freight, insurance and evaporation as well as loading and unloading losses. BPC earlier imported furnace oil at a premium rate of USD 24 per ton to MoPAG 180 cst furnace oil assessments on CFR basis for delivery to Chittagong Port during July-December 2015.
Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/08/02/147939

Robi-Airtel merger gets PM’s approval

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday gave a go-ahead to the much-talked-about merger proposal of Robi-Airtel, paving the way for the formation of the country’s second largest mobile operator. The merger fee will be BDT 1.0 billion. A telecom division official said the prime minister endorsed all the clauses and conditions set by the division for the amalgamation of the two operators. The approved file arrived at the telecom division yesterday, said Md. Faizur Rahman Chowdhury, telecom secretary. The file will be sent to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission that will then take it forward. However, the BTRC’s legal team said a court hearing on the issue has been scheduled for August 4; if the prime minister’s approved copy is received before that, it will be placed before court.
Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/robi-airtel-merger-gets-pms-approval-1263085
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2016/08/02/pmo-clears-robi-airtel-merger-proposal/
http://newagebd.net/243842/pm-okays-robi-airtel-merger-fee/

NBR gives tax exemption to services, products, staff

National Board of Revenue (NBR) has offered tax exemption to different services, imported products, and income of employees and consultants of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to expedite its implementation. Contractor companies of the project will be able to enjoy the tax exemption on their bills and imported items upon complying with some conditions, tagged by the tax authority with the facility. Foreign workers, including employees of the Russian implementing agency, and consultants will be able to enjoy the income tax exemption during the project period. However, Bangladeshi subcontractors, to be appointed by the Russia’s state-run Atomstroyexport, will not be able to enjoy the tax exemption. They have to pay income tax as per the existing rules. Imported products for the Rooppur NPP must have to be certified by Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). Imported products, equipment, services and documents, in the name of BAEC, will be exempted from income tax. Tax at source on contractors or suppliers’ bills related to implementation of the project has also been exempted.
Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/08/02/147967

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