Energy experts at a meeting in the capital Dhaka on Sunday urged the interim government for taking pragmatic actions for renewable energy projects amid growing demands for power and energy as the country has been losing its gas reserves fast.
Speaking at the meeting on urgent energy challenges in Bangladesh and sustainable energy options, they said that the government should make investments in rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects flexible, rein in gas supply for domestic use and accelerate exploration of natural gas.
The Foreign Investors鈥� Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the meeting at a Dhaka hotel where investors requested the government for accessible industrial lands, net metering system and congenial atmosphere for investment.
Addressing as chief guest, power, energy, and mineral resources adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said that the government had taken several steps to 鈥榙ismantle the whole architecture of corruption鈥� in the country.
鈥業nstead of independent power producer or IPP options, we are encouraging the merchant power policy mechanism to break monopoly in the sector,鈥櫬燜ouzul said.
He added that the government would provide investors with land and transmission facilities in Jamalpur district-based solar power park.聽
Presenting his keynote paper, former dean of engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Ijaz Hossain, said, 鈥楤angladesh stands on a very difficult juncture as the country鈥檚 gas reserves will deplete by 2031.鈥�
He warned that Bangladesh鈥檚 energy supply chain would be ruined if the government continued importing expensive liquefied natural gas to feed domestic consumers and CNG-run three-wheelers, depriving industries.
GE Vernova Bangladesh鈥檚 country manager Nowshad Ali moderated a panel discussion where professor emeritus of United International University M Rezwan Khan, while replying to a question, recommended that processing investments in rooftop solar PV and net metering systems should be made flexible.
鈥楢bout 8,000MW power could be generated if solar PVs cover the existing industrial unit rooftops. The amount could be raised to 12,000MW if the government relaxes the terms and conditions on rooftop power installations,鈥� Rezwan said.
Dhaka University鈥檚 honorary professor Badrul Imam put emphasis on low-carbon emitting energy sources while Energy and Power Magazine editor Mollah Amzad Hossain requested the interim government to review its recent decision that suspends developing several letters of intent-secured renewable power plants.
