He said the country's only future option for alternative energy will be coal as the existing gas reserves are likely to be depleted by 2011 or 2012.

"If we don't have a new discovery of natural gas, then coal will be the only option," he told reporters at a Meet the Press programme. The Forum for Energy Reporters, Bangladesh (FERB) organised the function at Square Hospital auditorium in the city.

Tapan Chowdhury said the caretaker government is trying to add about 200MW electricity to the existing generation through maintenance and overhauling of some old power generation units.

Such candid comments from the energy adviser came at a time when the country is experiencing the worst power shortage. In recent weeks, power shortage reached 1,500 MW against a demand for 4,500 to 5,000 MW.

Experts in power sector fear the situation may aggravate further in the coming days when temperature will go up during the peak summer.

Tapan Chowdhury said the country will get another 200 MW in September 2008 when a number of rental power plants will be installed.

The adviser said his ministry is preparing an energy policy where a coal policy will be incorporated. The donor agency, UNDP, recently submitted a draft energy policy to the government for its consideration.

Replying to a question, he admitted that those who are involved in preparing the coal policy are not truly experts on the issue.

He said the government is yet to decide on which methodology of coal extraction--open pit or underground--will be adopted in the proposed coal policy.

"This is a matter of debate... we have had a bad experience in developing the Barapukuria coal mine," he said. "We have already invested $ 260 million in the project and we have to face a lot of difficulties."

About the proposed import of electricity from Myanmar, he said a power ministry team will visit the neighbouring country to assess the import potential.