B Mirror Desk : Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC has already hired one Project Management Consultant (PMC) and is currently choosing a second. The company plans to start implementing smart prepaid gas meters in 2026.
Shahnewaj Parvez, Managing Director of Titas Gas, the biggest state-owned gas distribution company with 2.878 million customers and a 55% market share, expressed optimism that the smart prepayment meter project might begin implementation by the second half of 2026.
The ADB-financed project’s selection process is currently underway, and another PMC will be appointed shortly.
In the meantime, the consulting contract for the WB-funded project has been given to a local company called Development & Technical Consultant Limited (DTCL).
In the meantime, the consulting contract for the WB-funded project has been given to a local company called Development & Technical Consultant Limited (DTCL).
Since starting the program more than ten years ago, Titas Gas has erected 420,000 prepaid meters in its command regions, mostly including Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Narsingdi.
The Japanese donor organization JICA provided financial assistance for the installation of these prepaid meters.
But this time, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank will fund the new project, and all of the meters will be smart prepaid ones. The MD of Titas Gas stated that the earlier ones were merely prepaid and not smart prepaid 1.75 million smart prepaid meters will be put in Titascontrolled territories as part of the new project.The remaining 1.1 million meters will be financed by the WB, with the remaining 650,000 meters being financed by the ADB.
About 18 months ago, two different agreements were inked with the World Bank and the ADB to install the 1.75 million smart prepaid meters, according to officials.
The MD of Titas Gas explained the importance of the PMC and emphasized its crucial role in project implementation, covering technical aspects such as planning, designing, and overseeing.“The PMC still controls the majority of the technological aspects.One or two businesses are typically designated as PMCs,” he informed UNB.
The PMC is also responsible for monitoring and supervising the tendering process and implementation works. Due to fraudulent practices in the tendering process, one selection was canceled, and a re-tendering process was initiated to appoint the second consultant, he noted.
Official sources confirmed that in November 2023, Titas Gas signed two loan agreements for the installation of 1.75 million smart prepaid meters under two projects.
On November 23, 2023, Titas signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for the installation of 1.1 million smart prepaid meters under the Gas Sector Efficiency and Carbon Abatement Project.
On November 28, 2023, the company signed another agreement with the ADB for the installation of 650,000 smart prepaid meters under the Smart Metering Energy Efficiency Improvement Project.
The government initiated the smart prepaid meter project for Titas Gas to reduce excessive system losses to a reasonable level.
As the oldest and largest gas distribution company in terms of operational area and sales volume, Titas Gas has been struggling with a 7 per cent system loss.
Company officials estimate that Titas incurs losses of Tk 150–180 crore (Tk 1.5–1.8 billion) per month due to system loss. If checked, the company could save Tk 1,800–2,160 crore (Tk 18–21.6 billion) annually.
Titas Gas has already installed about 350,000 prepaid gas meters for household consumers in Dhaka with financial support from JICA. These meters are primarily in Gulshan, Banani, Mohammadpur, Paltan, Ramna, New Market, Khilgaon, and Segunbagicha.
Under the new project, WB-financed smart prepaid meters will be installed in Dhaka South and Narayanganj, while ADB-financed meters will be installed in Dhaka North and Gazipur.
Currently, Titas Gas provides services to more than 2.878 million customers, comprising 396 CNG stations, 1,755 captive power plants, 12,078 commercial customers
