The 3rd South Asia LPG Summit 2019 held from 3-4 March in Dhaka called for reducing the market price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to an affordable level while ensuring safety of the consumers as they are growing fast.
All Event Group and Gems Bangladesh organized the summit with the support of Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources and LPG Operators' Association of Bangladesh. More than 200 foreign delegates and exhibitors participated the two-day event.
In the opening ceremony, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid called upon the LPG operators to set a cost-effective price for the fuel.
He pointed out that the LPG demand was growing in a remarkable way in the rural areas and stressed the need for bringing down the price in consistent with the global price, which has declined now. Drawing attention of the dealer companies which are bottling, the minister requested them to pay heed for authorization of the cylinders properly and to launch awareness campaign at the root level.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been asked to act more strictly so that the manipulation in case of LPG price cannot take place. He assured that from now on the ministry would try to regulate the price of LPG.
“The government has made a tremendous development in creating economic zones. So the industries should be set up in the zones,” he said.
Azam J. Chowdhury, Chairman of East Coast Group, termed cross-filling as the main challenging issue to be solved. He said the LPG demand has increased from 80,000 tonnes to 1.0 million tonnes in last 4 years as it is a most safer, clean and innocent fuel than other gases.
Currently, 18 companies are working in LPG sector and other 10 companies would start very soon. But LPG accident can destroy the market image. So, awareness program and campaign is a must now, he added.
Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan, Director General of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (BFSCD), termed the summit as an energy hub, where energy expertise and professionals from many diversified sections meet to find out and discuss the best energy practices.
“To make a sustainable growth for the country and especially in LPG sector, monitoring, transportation, storage and regulation must be ensured by all the LPG owners, he said.
FBCCI Senior Vice-President Sheikh Fazle Fahim said it was “incorrect” to say that the LPG firms were exploiting as the companies adjust the prices globally in every three months.
Among others, Md. Shamsur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), and Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), also spoke in the inaugural session of the summit.
During the summit four panel discussions were held regarding LPG transportation, investment, infrastructure challenges, innovations and alternative source of natural gas.
However, the panelists talked about the energy mix scenario in 2030 and LPG prospects as a low carbon fuel. Based on funding the investment for infrastructure, they discussed the types of infrastructure that needs to be developed, the role of local and foreign investments, and the importance of supportive government policy.
As the LPG business in Bangladesh seeks to grow, they discussed how to secure investment and make good use of investment towards growth.
Exhibition
More than 80 local and international companies were there to show their technology and benefits of LPG as an alternative energy at the summit joined by over 200 foreign representatives to meet the increasing demand of Bangladesh.
BM LP Gas and G Gas contributed as gold sponsor, Unigas, Clean Cooking Alliance, PROMITA LP gas, HEXAGON Ragasco also sponsored in the event.
LPG Summit is the place to be seen when it comes to the LPG Business in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other neighboring countries in the region, all of which have been developing important LPG markets of their own.
Some of the exhibitors in this event were ATILIM, Bluesky Energy Technology, Daly cyclinder, Gas Project, Globe Gas, INTRACO LPG, Manntek, Kosel Industries, Sigma, Sian, Paresa, Trovan, Sumec, Laughs Gas, JIGL, Bangla Gas, Universal LP Gas, Cryocan etc.
However, most of the market players or stall owners expressed their satisfaction about the fair. Their approach is to make a sustainable business development across south Asia. So promoting their policy and technology was the main concern of the stall owners.
“We are very much satisfied seeing the participation of the visitors and also the demand grew for LPG. We hope this event will work as an energy focal point to collaborate among different entrepreneurs and companies,” said Shah Alam, Assistant Manager, HR & Administration of LAUGHS Gas Bangladesh.
The conference sponsor GEN AIR is in the exhibition to promote their LPG conversion where they are using Europe’s STAG brand in their cylinders.
The demand of LPG is growing much faster but the clients are also concerned for the safety aspect, a major issue to be noted for all of us said Md. Mahabubul Islam Khan, senior manager of G GAS.
The rest of the company promoters were also pleased to get a chance for their promotion of technology whereas few of them were not.
