Four major textile and garment trade bodies have urged the government to introduce area-based gas rationing to minimize production disruptions amid the ongoing gas shortage.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and Bangladesh Terry Towel & Linen Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BTTLMEA) made the proposal in a letter to Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) on September 16.
They proposed dividing industrial areas into zones and restricting gas supply to one zone for four to five days at a time while maintaining adequate supply to others, with the restrictions rotated among areas.
The roster should consider production requirements, employment, export contribution, industry type and safety, they said.
The organizations also called for reallocating surplus gas from other distribution areas to the Titas Gas network, where around 90% of the country’s industries are located.
Titas accounts for about 75.88% of the approved captive-gas load, while the remaining five distribution companies account for 24.12%.
They said gas allocation should be based on actual industrial demand, approved load, employment, production and export contribution to ensure more efficient use of limited supplies.
