ECNEC approves Tk 58,088.92cr projects including PEDP-5

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved 13 development projects worth Tk 58,088.92 crore, including the Tk 41,090.48 crore Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5) and a Tk 592 crore initiative to drill two gas wells. 

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the sixth ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year at the Bangladesh Secretariat, clearing 11 new and two revised projects out of 17 proposals placed before it.

Of the total estimated cost, the government will provide Tk 50,041.20 crore, project assistance will supply Tk 7,974.65 crore, and implementing organisations will contribute Tk 73.07 crore. 

Briefing reporters after the meeting, State Minister for Planning Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki said the education ministry's PEDP-5 project should be implemented without delay to build a stronger foundation for the next generation. 

The programme includes several government flagship initiatives, including 'One Teacher, One Tab', multimedia classrooms and 'One Child, One Tree', he said.

It also covers establishing and renovating primary schools, setting up digital classrooms, providing uniforms, shoes, educational materials and mid-day meals, and organising sports, cultural activities and educational visits to historical sites and museums.

Zonayed Saki said that an initial proposal to train around 350,000 teachers across 63 centres would take considerable time. He said the government directed officials to use existing public infrastructure and online platforms alongside proper manuals and beneficiary identification to complete the training quickly while maintaining quality.

Under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Petrobangla subsidiary Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) will drill two appraisal-cum-development wells, Titas-32 and Titas-33, at the Titas Gas Field by September 2029. This will add around 30 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to domestic gas production. 

Financed with Tk 414.40 crore from the government and Tk 177.60 crore from BGFCL, the project prioritises the government's target to drill 150 onshore wells by 2031 and another 150 during 2031–35.

Over 10 years, the two wells could produce 100.74 billion cubic feet of gas and 60,444 barrels of condensate valued at Tk 339.07 crore at wellhead prices. It includes Tk 285.26 crore for gas and Tk 53.81 crore for condensate, while the gas output is valued at Tk 6,523.97 crore at consumer prices. 

BGFCL currently supplies 480–485 mmcfd to the national grid from five of its six operational fields, including 330 mmcfd from 23 of the 28 drilled wells at its largest Titas field.

Covering drilling via a foreign contractor, engaging local and foreign consultants and installing gas-gathering pipelines, the initiative is expected to support industrial growth and save foreign exchange by reducing liquefied natural gas imports.

Among the other approved initiatives, the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry secured approval for five projects. 

Meanwhile, ECNEC sent back four proposals for further assessment, component clarification and cost rationalisation. 

Source: BSS