The Energy Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources yesterday directed the Petrobangla to allocate more gas to the power sector to help reduce the frequent power outage and keep the load-shedding within a tolerable level.

It also asked the Petrobangla officials to work on gas staggering issue or explore the way to stop the misuse of gas to further accelerate power generation in the country.

A decision to this effect came at an emergency meeting on the ongoing energy crisis at the ministry, presided over by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Brig Gen (retd) Enamul Haq.

The ministry will again sit on Monday to discuss the issue, officials said.

Referring to the nagging power crisis across the country, PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir told the meeting that due to gas shortage they could not produce another 600 megawatt to 700 MW electricity. Besides, a number of power plants cannot come into operation due to gas shortage, he said.

"If this situation continues, then how the new gas-fired power plants will come into operation", he asked the Petrobangla.

In response, general manager of Petrobnagla told the meeting that from next month 25 to 30 mmcfd gas would come into the national grid from wells 4 and 12 of the Titas gas field.

"We can add another 200 mmcfd gas from different gas fields within next three months", he added.

Due to huge demand in irrigation, PDB needs to produce an additional 2,100 MW electricity, while the country's 80 per cent power plants are run by gas, officials said.

The meeting said, due to the salty summer weather, demand for electricity has increased in the city areas to run the air conditioners. PDB said they are producing 3,900 to 4,100 MW electricity on an average against the demand for around 6,000 MW.

PM's adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, secretaries of both power and energy divisions and Pertobangla officials, among others, attended the meeting.