The visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation has asked the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) about how the latter determined its bulk and retail tariff gas and electricity prices in the country.
The four-member team, while meeting the regulatory commission, also wanted to know how often it revised or adjusted tariff in a certain year and whether the commission has the freedom to set prices independently, said a BERC official.
The source also said the IMF team inquired about the energy regulator's role in expediting gas exploration in the country.
Till 2020, gas and electricity tariff adjustment more than once a fiscal year was not allowed in the BERC Act, but it was later amended to remove this provision.
The IMF team's visit comes as Bangladesh recently asked for a $4.5 billion loan from the money lender.
In view of this, the IMF has focused on reforms in various economic sectors and utilities -- particularly, a reduction in subsidies.
In the last few days, IMF representatives already sat with the power division, power development board, Energy and Mineral Resource Division, Petrobangla and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to collect data about these organizations.
