CNG spared from gas price hike

The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) was spared from another hike on Sunday when the government raised the average gas prices for retail consumers.

Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Mohammad Abu Faruque on Sunday announced the price hike of gas in seven sectors apart from CNG. The consumers of CNG, mostly used as fuel for vehicles, will feel much relief from the decision.

According to the latest figures, CNG usage in Bangladesh is around 3.45 percent. Around 2,38,540 vehicles run entirely on CNG, 6,278 on LPG, and 32,246 on hybrid systems. These figures translate to around 10 percent of the country’s vehicles running on CNG.

During the announcement of new prices, Faruque said the price of gas used in vehicles has not been raised. The acting chairman also said that all previous hikes on CNG prices always created havoc in the transport sector.

This time leaving CNG from the price hike spares common people from another anarchy, he said, hoping that it will give relief to the people. With the latest decision, CNG consumers will have to pay at the existing rate of Tk 43 per cubic metre.

Meanwhile, energy experts are encouraging the reduction in CNG usage and preferring the autogas for vehicles instead.