Sangsad Bhaban, June 23 (UNB) - The government has started the process of importing 250-500 MW of electricity from India to meet the current power deficit, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Enamul Huq told Parliament Wednesday.

Taking part in the discussion on the national budget for fiscal 2010-11, he said more than 1,000 MW of electricity will be added to the national grid this year and another 900 MW next year.

Expressing his firm conviction about reaching the targets set for electricity production, the State Minister informed the House that steps were taken to generate 5,000 MW of electricity in 2011 and raise it to 9,000 MW within 2013.

He, however, voiced apprehension about the production of electricity based on gas and uninterrupted power supply, saying that the present gas reserve is decreasing.

Huq said considering the future gas shortage, the government is taking steps to produce electricity from alternative sources like renewable energy, dual fuel and other fuels.

He said 5 percent of the total production of electricity within 2015 will be from renewable energy. The government is also trying to procure LNG and distributing CFL bulbs among the consumers to save energy.

About the coal policy, the State Minister informed the House that there is an estimated reserve of three billion tons of coals in five coal fields in the country.

Coal will be extracted by ensuring public interest as well as on social and economic consideration, he said.

Huq expressed his happiness for the allocation of over Tk 6,114 crore in the new budget for the power and energy sector, which he said is 15.3 percent of the total budgetary allocations.