Desk Report: Recently primary Textile millers urged the government to ensure an uninterrupted gas supply to keep the recovery of the apparel sector from pandemic fallout smooth. According to BTMA, majority of the spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing and printing industries in the textile sector are failing to run at full capacity due to the shortage of gas in the industrial belts of Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Savar, Ashulia, Manikganj, Narsingdi and Chattogram.
Mohammad Ali Khokon, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) said, country’s export-oriented textile sector has incurred production loss worth $1.75 billion in the last three months owing to the lack of enough natural gas supply to the factories.
Under the circumstances, if the price of gas is increased by 103-116 per cent, the electricity cost would increase by Tk 20.47 to Tk 23 to produce a kilogram of yarns, he added
BTMA president also mentions following key points at a press conference:
-If production costs increased due to a price hike of gas, then the supply chain would be disrupted
-If the proposed price hike goes through, yarn production cost will increase by 25 cents per kg
– Fears of investment stagnation, closure of mills rife
– Textile wants more gas by shutting down fertiliser factories
-BTMA demanded an immediate installation of EVM gas meters in the textile mills
– Adoption of long-term energy policies demanded
