However, the power failure followed by air conditioning failure as reported in the papers (April: 9) at the state function in the Bangladesh China Friendship Hall had perhaps nothing to do with gas supply. The glitch could be mechanical or power distribution based. We await the enquiry report on this matter too.

In this connection it might be interesting to quote from "Energy & Power" issue of April 1. They wrote " there is no problem of gas supply to power plants in Sylhet, Shahjibazar, Ashuganj, Baghabari, Shambhugonj, Megnaghat, Haripur, Siddirganj and Chittagong areas". They further wrote "the gas supply to Ghorashal has to be restricted during peak hours, as the gas transmission pipelines have to feed gas demand of entire northern parts of Dhaka and also the Ghorashal fertiliser plants. The power plants of Ghorashal are relatively inefficient and require more gas for generating electricity".

These may be indicators of deficiency in the operation and maintenance of power plants, rather than gas supply. Ultimately the issue boils down to extra power capacity to enable generating sets to be taken out for routine maintenance and required repair and replacement of parts. More power plants are however conspicuous by their absence, and no solution may be available for some time to come!

Maybe, representatives from "Energy & Power", the only technical magazine on the subject, should be part of these enquiry teams so that both the government and the public can know about the facts.