Bangladesh: Bangladesh needs a combination of immediate measures and medium- to long-term strategies to address its worsening energy crisis while ensuring that energy shortages do not hamper economic growth, energy expert Prof M Tamim has said.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Independent University Bangladesh Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. M. Tamim highlighted that the country’s domestic gas production is declining, and limitations in infrastructure, technology, investment, and financing are making it difficult to meet the growing demand for energy. He was speaking at a seminar titled “Crisis in the Fuel Sector: Prospects and Path forward” at Dhaka Club, organized by the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB). Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood attended as the chief guest, while state minister Aninda Islam Amit was present as a special guest.
‘We have limitations in all three of our fossil fuel sources: oil, coal, and gas. Yet we have to operate expensive oil- and gas-fired power plants,’ Tamim said, stressing the need to diversify the energy mix. He suggested maximizing the use of coal-fired power plants, while rapidly expanding solar power to create opportunities for fuel savings during the daytime.
The IUB VC proposed developing solar capacity through rooftop and medium-scale connected projects, including a ‘plug-and-play’ approach where the government provides land and grid connectivity, allowing developers to offer electricity at lower prices. He emphasized that the energy crisis results from long-standing issues that cannot be resolved overnight and called for medium and long-term planning beyond immediate firefighting.
Referring to the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, Tamim questioned the practice of awarding contracts in haste without proper cost assessment, advocating for competitive procurement and accurate cost evaluation. On domestic gas, he suggested bringing in international expertise to improve recovery from existing fields and developing the Chhatak gas field, considering its technical risks and potential reserves.
Tamim noted the country’s heavy dependency on imported energy, urging an assessment of domestic coal resource utilization while focusing on securing reliable and diversified energy imports. He also stressed regional energy cooperation, citing the 1,160 MW of electricity being imported through India’s power exchange as a useful mechanism for meeting Bangladesh’s electricity needs.
He concluded by emphasizing that Bangladesh could not sacrifice economic growth due to energy shortages. ‘Economic development cannot be stopped. We have to support our economic growth through energy. If we can bring in the required energy, I believe we can supply the demand,’ he said.