Coping strategies: countries adjust to all-time-high oil prices Bangladesh increased fuel prices for the first time since April 2007. The government maintained subsidies on diesel and kerosene, used predominantly by the poor. Texan motorists, in search of cheap gas, crossed the border into Mexico, which subsidizes its fuel. Indian truckers went on strike from July 2 to 4,

Gas shortage has been worrying electricity officials, foreign financiers and private entrepreneurs about the future of power plants, already in the pipeline or even in operation.
Many cannot rest assured of required gas supply to power plants despite having prior assurance with Petrobangla as the country has been passing through its worst gas crisis in decades.
Some are planning to switch over to dual-fuel system so that diesel or furnace oil could be used for keeping the plants operational in case of gas failures, power officials said.

A high-powered committee Monday renewed its position to resolve grinding crisis of gas and power in Chittagong region.

The National Committee, which draws representatives from the government and the private sector, placed a six-point charter of recommendations to free the economically important region of pervasive energy shortages.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed formed the 15-member committee on July 3 to specially focus on the energy sector, as the government is struggling to feed the energy-hungry factories amid growing demand.

Lying on a bed at the labour unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Rita Begum is indeed very happy and proud. She has become mother of an angel like baby girl. The child is now safe under her mother's observant eyes. But how will she grow up in a city of pollution, over population and traffic mismanagement?

The high-powered committee formed to suggest policy in order to overcome gas and power crises in Chittagong will hold a national-level meeting at Chittagong Circuit House today.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power and Energy Affairs M Tamim and Special Assistant for Post, Telegraph and Tele-communications MA Malek will attend the meeting as members of the committee with Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman in the chair.

Power crisis will turn more severe this Ramadan than in the past as the power board projected less generation during evening peak hours this September. The interim government's steps to increase power generation has failed
Power Development Board officials at a meeting with the chief adviser's special assistant M Tamim on Tuesday projected the average generation during peak hours in September at 3,654MW, subject to the commissioning of a number of short-term rental and 90MW Fenchuganj power plants. Ramadan begins early September.

The Energy Division will send the draft coal policy to the Cabinet Division by tomorrow for its placement before the council of advisers for approval, after a delay by about two years and a half over various controversies, officials said.

the Bangladesh government is mulling over not giving out new gas connections as a measure to check the depleting supply in the country. The measure comes at a time when the demand of gas is increasing everyday in the country.

The law ministry has pointed out that some sections of the draft coal policy would contradict the existing Mines and Mineral Rules 1968 and suggested amendment of the rules before approving the policy. A representative of the law ministry made the observation at an inter-ministry meeting on the draft coal policy, chaired by energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin at the Energy Division on Thursday, said sources present at the meeting.

Leaders from the Group of Eight industrial powers will discuss ways to tackle soaring energy and food prices at their summit next month, Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda said Monday.