Energy & Power Magazine - EP_22_06 (Energy & Power Vol 22 Issue 6 September 1, 2024)

In this issue

Bangladesh stands at a crucial point in its journey toward a sustainable energy future. While plans like the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan 2023 (IEPMP) and the Mujib Climate Perspective Plan offer a foundation, concerns about data accuracy and lack of clear directives raise the need for a fresh approach. Experts differ on the best path forward—some call for revising the IEPMP with real data, while others highlight the urgency of a new roadmap to address legal, financial, and resource challenges. The Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change could play a key role in shaping a low-carbon development strategy, aligning with updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to move toward net-zero emissions. At the same time, Bangladesh must carefully manage the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy to avoid price shocks and ensure energy remains affordable and secure. The debate over using domestic coal for power generation continues, with past efforts yielding limited results. Japan’s assistance in developing the Asia Pacific Integrated Model (AIM) to limit carbon emissions by 2025 offers some hope, but no net-zero target is yet in place. As Bangladesh works toward reducing emissions by 21% by 2030, a third NDC is being formulated for 2035, potentially setting even higher targets.
Bangladesh's energy transition must strike a balance between economic development, living standards, and resource use. Ensuring energy security, affordability, and independence will be critical to the country’s sustainable progress. Without a relevant- and well-informed strategy, the nation risks undermining its long-term goals.

Refreshing Energy Transition Strategy

Despite existing plans like the Energy and Power Master Plan 2023 IEPMP), renewable energy policy drafts, and the Mujib Climate Perspective Plan, questions arise about Bangladesh's need for a new energy transition roadmap. Experts express differing views: some suggest revising the IEPMP with real data, while others emphasize the urgency of a roadmap considering legal and investment issues. Another perspective suggests an energy strategy from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, aligning with national efforts for low-carbon development and netzero emissions.

8 mins

Restructuring and Overhauling Gas Supply Chain Management

Ensuring a sustainable supply of primary fuel (gas, coal, and fuel oil) is a major challenge for Bangladesh’s energy and power sector. Since 2000, successive governments have failed to make a political decision to exploit discovered coal resources buried at mineable depths. The governments have also failed to carry out the required exploration of petroleum resources in onshore frontier areas.

8 mins

Reforming The Crippled Gas Sector

Undoubtedly, the energy situation in Bangladesh is in a crucial stage. The existing gas reserves are depleting rapidly while the demand is rising due to the country’s population, and economic and industrial growth. As per the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023, the gas supply should grow at 1.5%, 2.6%, and 2.5% rates during 2019-30, 2030-40, and 204050 respectively to attain the county’s growth as per the Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2021– 2041. However, Figure 1 shows that the annual average gas production from the domestic gas fields started to decline after reaching its peak in 2017.

8 mins

CCDB Climate Center: Towards Resilience For A Climate-Sensitive Future

In the heart of Bangladesh's vigorous landscape, the CCDB Climate Center stands as an inspiration of innovation and hope, leading the charge in the fight against climate change. Established by the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), this innovative facility is the first in the nation, dedicated to fostering climate resilience and promoting sustainable and low-carbon development.

2 mins

Challenges Of Energy Sector Reforms

The energy sector is now in total disarray. An evil syndicate of senior government policymakers and corrupt business groups through irregularities and corruption has created a complete mess.

4 mins

Nuclear Fusion Startups Usher in Next Era of Sustainable Energy Innovation: GlobalData

Nuclear fusion technology is rapidly advancing, bringing us closer to a sustainable, limitless energy source.

1 min

Rooppur NPP Unit 2 Receives Delivery of Major Equipment

Transport Lock’’ a part of the nuclear fuel handling system for unit-2 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has been delivered to the construction site.

1 min

BB Increases Foreign Currency Support for Energy Imports

Bangladesh Bank has increased its supply of foreign currency to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to continue its import of petroleum fuels and gas from abroad and also from locally operating foreign companies.

1 min

Power Outage Hits Rural Areas

The country, especially the rural areas, has been experiencing frequent power cuts recently due to insufficient electricity production from coal-based power plants, alongside the prolonged delay in increasing LNG regasification facilities.

1 min

Chief Adviser Urges China to Relocate Solar Panel Plants to Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus recently called upon China to relocate some of its solar panel factories to Bangladesh in an effort to boost the country's green transition and exports.

1 min

Summit Reviewing Cross-Border Power Deals after India Rule Change

Bangladesh's Summit Group plans to renegotiate preliminary deals to import renewable power from India after a recent rule change by New Delhi allowed generators that exclusively export their electricity to sell locally, the utility's chairman said.

1 min

ABB Delivers Automation Solutions for 10GW of Renewables in India

ABB has delivered an automation solution for 10 GW of renewable energy plants in India. Starting with a 100-MW project about seven years ago, the company has reached the 10 GW milestone with more than 300 renewable energy projects across the country using its Internet of Things (IoT)-based PLC solution.

1 min

Australia Approves US$13.5b Project to Export Solar Power to Singapore

Australia said on Aug 21 it had given the go-ahead for a A$20 billion (US$13.5 billion) solar project that plans to ship energy from a giant solar farm in the country's north to Singapore through a 4,300km undersea cable.

1 min

Combining Climate Measures Key to Slashing Emissions: Study

Amajor new study published recently on the effectiveness of climate measures such as taxes or subsidies in reducing greenhouse gases has found standalone measures fail to make a big difference.

1 min

Environment Adviser Urges Doubling of $100b for Climate Financing

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser on Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has called for doubling the US$100 billion in climate financing to address the growing needs for environmental conservation.

1 min

Environmental Activists Block Cruise Ship Arriving in Amsterdam

Environmental activists tied themselves to a lock recently at the Port of Amsterdam to prevent the arrival of a cruise ship, according to the port and the climate group.

1 min

Experts Meet as Final Global Plastic Treaty Talks Near

With months until crunch talks on the world's first binding treaty on plastic pollution, experts are meeting in Bangkok to discuss financing options and problematic plastics.

1 min

ADB to Help Bangladesh in Low-Cost River Cleaning Projects: Rizwana

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, recently said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will assist Bangladesh in implementing low-cost river-cleaning projects in important rivers, particularly Buriganga, Turag, and Balu.

1 min

LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW-LOOK POWER AND ENERGY POLICY

For years energy experts had urged the now-ousted government of Sheikh Hasina to fix some grave wrongs committed in the power and energy sector. They were particularly critical of a black law passed in 2010 for quick power and energy generation bypassing any tenders.

2 mins

Debt Liabilities Major Challenge Of Energy Sector

Bangladesh’s energy and power sector is on the verge of collapse due to mismanagement, poor governance, and misappropriation of money. Huge debt liabilities have created overburden.

8 mins

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Energy & Power Magazine Description:

Energy & Power (EP) is the first and only full-fledged fortnightly magazine that deals with the much cried over energy and power sector in Bangladesh. Since its inception in June 16, 2003, EP is working very hard to 
a) Develop public consciousness on sustainable and even development of energy sector; 
b) Assist the policy makers in assuming pragmatic policies for a balanced development of the energy sector; 
c) Continuous supply of information among public; and 
d) Develop a group of reporters in this field 

Bangladesh is an energy deficit country like other countries in the region and most of the people do not have adequate access to the energy and power. The country is completely dependent on fossil energy source; at the same time, it is one of the most inefficient energy using countries in the world. 
It lacks efficiency in planning, management, generation, distribution, load management and even at the end user level consumption. 
In spite of the above drawbacks, issues relating to utilization of renewable energy, exploring alternative use of energy, planned use of environment friendly energy are significantly undermined in Bangladesh. 
The biggest challenge of Bangladesh is to find a path for balanced growth of its energy sector. Despite its resource constraints, EP dynamically strives to provide theenergy sector with a flow of information and create public awareness; so that policymakers get guidelines and platforms for its sustainable development.

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EP believes that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of a journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues and professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. We strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty.

The EP editorial policy is to share a dedication to ethical behavior and uphold the zero conflict of interest principles and highest standards of practice. 

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