Gas supply to industrial units improved since Sep 15 evening: BTMA

Textile millers have said gas supply to industrial units has improved since September 15 evening, and they are now running their mills at increased capacity.

In a board meeting held at Gulshan Club in Dhaka on the day, the millers said a positive environment had been restored in the mills as their production capacity increased with higher gas pressure.

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The millers are hopeful of timely supply of raw materials such as fabrics to garment exporters as they can resume production at high volume with the increased supply of gas since Tuesday evening.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), through a statement, thanked the prime minister for the rise in gas supply.

Earlier, the prime minister, in a meeting with the leaders of top trade bodies on September 14, assured them that the gas supply situation would improve from the following evening as some cargoes of liquefied natural gas had arrived in the country.

The textile millers also said it is expected that the import of yarn of 10 to 30 count will be allowed under the bank guarantee instead of the zero-duty import facility under the bond, the statement read.

They also sought cooperation to stop the abuse of bond facilities for importing yarn and suggested taking legal action against traders who are involved in the abuse of bond facilities for importing yarn and damaging the local primary textile sector.

The millers also urged the government to allow them bank loan rescheduling and refinancing facilities and ease loan restructuring for the primary textile sector.

BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell said since the gas supply has increased, the millers will be able to supply raw materials to garment exporters on time, production capacity will improve, and they can retain the employment of a large number of workers.