The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has increased the price of gas used in fertiliser factories in the country by Tk13.25 to Tk29.25 from the previous rate of Tk16 per cubic meter. The new price will be effective from December 1.
BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed came up with the development at a press conference on Sunday (November 23) afternoon.

Commission members, Md. Abdur Razzak, Mizanur Rahman, Brigadier General (Retd.) Shahid Sarwar and Syeda Sultana Razia were present at the time.

In a public hearing on October 6, Petrobangla and gas distribution companies proposed to raise the price of gas from Tk 16 to Tk 40 per cubic meter. BERC's technical committee later recommended raising the price of gas to Tk 30.

The proposal of Trobangla states that if the price is increased, an additional 7 cargoes of LNG will be imported and supplied to fertiliser. The full gas supply (250 million cubic feet) will be provided for 6 months (October-March). In the remaining 6 months, gas will be supplied at the rate of 165 million in April-May, 175 million in June and 130 million in July-September.

Currently, the production cost of urea fertiliser per kg is around 38 taka, which is being sold in the market at 27 taka. And BCIC is selling it to dealers at 25 taka. In this, a trade gap of 13 taka per kg is being given as a subsidy.