Energy & Power Magazine - EP_22_15 (Energy & Power Vol 22 Issue 15 Jan 16, 2025)

In this issue

As another scorching summer approaches, Bangladesh is on the brink of yet another power crisis. Households, businesses, and industries are all bracing for prolonged power cuts, knowing that the electricity demand could reach an overwhelming 18,000MW. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) can produce 27,820MW on paper, but in reality, fuel shortages and financial constraints make this number largely theoretical. For years, Bangladesh has relied heavily on imported fuel to keep the lights on. But with mounting unpaid bills and an ongoing dollar shortage, this dependence has become a costly burden. Petrobangla struggles to supply enough gas, coal plants are waiting on overdue payments, and private power producers are warning that their plants cannot generate power without immediate clearance of dues. Meanwhile, Adani Power’s supply from India hangs in the balance, contingent on settling outstanding debts. The hard truth is that planned load-shedding is inevitable. Instead of scrambling when power shortages hit, we must prepare now. That means prioritizing funds and ensuring efficient use of fuel. Short-term fixes, however, will not solve the underlying issue. The government must invest in domestic energy sources, expand LNG import capacity, and fast-track overdue reforms in the power sector.
This summer will not be easy, but it can be a turning point. If we take the right steps—accepting short-term sacrifices while planning for a sustainable future—Bangladesh can emerge stronger. The time to act is now before another year of crisis becomes just another statistic

Austria's OMV Agrees to Supply Romanian Gas to Germany

Three people with knowledge of the deal said that Austria's OMV will supply Germany's Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project from 2027.

1 min

S Arabia Top Buyer of Russian Fuel Oil in Nov

Saudi audi Arabia was the top destination for Russian sea-borne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil (VGO) exports in November, according to LSEG data.

1 min

Russia Stops Gas Exports via Ukraine to Europe

Gas exports from Russia via Ukraine have been stopped as the transit agreement has expired, according to Gazprom.

1 min

India's Adani Green CEO to Step Down

Adani Green Energy's chief executive officer Amit Singh will step down to take up the role of the chief of the international energy business of the Adani Group, the renewable energy firm said recently.

1 min

Call to Shut Rampal Power Plant

Protesters gathered in Bagerhat's Mongla recently, demanding the immediate shutdown of the Rampal Thermal Power Plant, citing its detrimental impact on the Sundarbans and the adjacent Pashur River.

1 min

Bashundhara LP Gas Recognised 'Best Brand' for 5th Time as

For the fifth consecutive time, Bashundhara LP Gas has received the prestigious 'Best Brand Award' for maintaining the highest standards in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector.

1 min

Petrobangla Gets New Chairman

Additional secretary Md Rezanur Rahman has joined as Chairman of Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) on deputation on January 2.

1 min

Mobil Jamuna to Expand with Oil Tanker, Land Purchase

The company's board of directors has approved the purchase of a secondhand Aframax oil tanker, MT Nissos Delos, for million.

1 min

ACC Sues Ex-Minister Nasrul, 2 Family Members

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) recently filed three cases against former state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid, his wife Seema Hamid and son Zareef Hamid on charge of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income.

1 min

HC Orders Immediate Action to Halt Illegal Brick Kilns in CHT

The High Court has directed authorities to take immediate steps to prevent the operation of illegal brick kilns in the hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari.

1 min

Summit Power Appoints Monirul as New MD

Maj General (Retd) Dr Monirul Islam Akhand, ndc, psc, PhD has been appointed as the Managing Director of Summit Power Limited (SPL).

1 min

Bangladesh Keeps LPG Costs Steady Despite Fall in Global Prices

Despite a slight drop in global prices, the Bangladesh government has opted to keep domestic prices for liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, unchanged in January, citing the ongoing depreciation of the local currency.

1 min

Summer Load To Be Tough To Deal With

Bangladesh's electricity demand is set to rise significantly in summer to 17,500–18,000 MW, straining supply despite an installed capacity of 27,820 MW. The key challenge is ensuring an adequate fuel supply—gas, coal, and furnace oil—amid financial constraints.

9 mins

Managing Energy Supplies Smartly In 2025

Ensuring a smooth fuel supply is the main challenge of the interim government in 2025.

5 mins

Rooftop Solar Can Help BREB Reduce Losses, Say Experts

Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) can minimize its losses by adopting a household rooftop solar model in areas where there are fewer industrial electricity connections, experts said.

2 mins

Smartly Addressing Energy Sector Priorities

The energy sector needs to be smarter and more efficient in confronting and managing the emerging crisis that may affect energy security from March 2025 onwards.

5 mins

OPEC Cuts To COP29 Global Energy Market In 2024

The global energy landscape has witnessed TH a series of developments in 2024: a surge in renewable energy adoption, transformative geopolitical strategies, and the continued efforts of leading oilproducing nations to stabilize prices through voluntary cuts.

4 mins

Rational Gas Pricing A Challenge Of Rejuvenated BERC

Saleque Sufi

5 mins

Turkey Eyes Role in Reviving Syrian Oil, Gas Production

Turkey said it wants to help increase oil and natural gas production in Syria, the latest step in Ankara's overtures for deeper involvement in the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

1 min

Toshiba Delivers Fuel Cell System to Ship

The \"he provider of energy industry solutions Toshiba (TOSYY) Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) announced that the company has delivered a mobile 30kW hydrogen fuel cell system, which volume per unit power output is reduced to 1/3 compared to the stationary fuel cell systems, to a fuel cell ship.

1 min

Titas Gas Disconnects 16,827 Illegal Lines in 4 Months

Several employees of Sitas Transmission Gas and Distribution PLC and some policemen were injured in an attack during a drive to disconnect illegal gas lines in Sonargaon of Narayanganj recently.

1 min

Chevron Targets $6-8b Growth in Free Cash Flows Next Year: CEO

Michael Wirth, CEO of Chevron, said recently that the company is in a position to increase its cash flow from free to $8 billion and to reduce expenses \"by a couple of billion dollars\".

1 min

Saudi Aramco Keen to Build Oil Refinery in Bangladesh: Envoy

Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil giant, Aramco, has expressed interest in setting up an oil refinery in Bangladesh, which could significantly impact the Bay of Bengal region, Saudi Ambassador Essa Youssef Essa AI Duhailan said recently.

1 min

LNG Supply Period Extended for 7 Companies

The Advisory ouncil Committee on Economic Affairs (ACCEA) has approved the extension of the LNG (liquefied natural gas) supply contracts for seven companies.

1 min

Govt Okays Purchase of Refined Fuel Oil for 6 Months

The government has decided to procure 14.25 lakh tonnes of refined fuel oil to meet national demand for the first half of this year.

1 min

Excelerate Completes 3,000th LNG Ship-To-Ship Transfer Operation

Excelerate Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EE) has announced that on December 28, 2024, the company safely completed its 3,000th LNG ship-to-ship (STS) operation since the start of STS operations in 2007.

1 min

India Reviews $30b Sulfur-Cutting Program for Coal Plants

India is reviewing a decade-old $30 billion program requiring coal-fired power plants to install equipment to cut sulfur emissions after government-backed studies showed they had little impact on curbing pollution, according to a document.

1 min

China Plans 330m Tonnes of Coal Imports in 2025

China confirms its central role in the Asian coal market with a forecast of 330 million tons of coal imports in 2025, according to an Australian report.

1 min

If Voted to Power, BNP will Review Power Sector Pacts: Mirza Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said there was massive corruption in power and energy sector during the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime.

1 min

Rosatom Welcomes 2025 on an Optimistic Note in Bangladesh

The outgoing year 2024 was a very successful year for Rosatom State Corporation in Bangladesh.

1 min

Asian Spot LNG Prices Gain on Europe Gas Outlook Uncertainty

Asia liquefied sian spot natural gas (LNG) prices rose recently to a one-month peak, as the expiry of a transit deal for Russian gas through Ukraine caused uncertainty in Europe's gas outlook.

1 min

BPC to Save Tk760cr in Fuel Oil Import Premiums

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will in save approximately Tk760 crore premiums for fuel oil imports during the first six months of 2025.

1 min

Intraco Shows Interest in Open Tender for Bhola Gas Transport Expansion

The Intraco Refuelling was Station, responsible for transporting 5 million cubic feet of gas daily from Bhola in CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) form during the previous government's tenure, has shown interest in expanding its capacity to transport an additional 20 million cubic feet of gas per day.

1 min

bp Flows First Gas at Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project

bp has begun flowing gas from wells at the GTA Phase1 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to its floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the next stage of commissioning.

1 min

US, UK Unveil Widespread Sanctions against Russia's Energy Sector

The United States and Britain recently announced sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including oil giant Gazprom Neft, before just days outgoing President Joe Biden leaves office.

1 min

Monthly Natural Gas Trades in India Shoot Up 129% in Dec

An increase in gas prices in the international market and a reduction in Administered Price Mechanism (APM) gas allocation to city gas distributors (CGD) led to monthly gas volumes traded on the Indian Gas Exchange Limited (IGX) rising by 129 percent sequentially to 5.7 metric million British thermal units (mmBtu) in December, the company said recently.

1 min

Turkey Seeks to Invest in RE

Turkey has shown a strong interest in investing in Bangladesh's diverse sectors, including renewable energy, automobile pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, information and communication technology, logistics, and construction.

1 min

Aker Solutions, ABB Partner for North Sea Green Volt Wind Study

Aken ker Solutions and ABB will conduct the first-phase FEED for the 560-MW GreenVolt floating offshore wind project in the central UK North Sea, 80 km from Peterhead, eastern Scotland.

1 min

Solar Pumps Revolutionize Farming in Northern Region

Farmers in the northern region, particularly in Rangpur and Dinajpur districts, have long faced water scarcity, making farming a challenging task.

1 min

ACWA Power Expands into China with 1GW of RE Projects

Saudi utility giant ACWA Power has announced its successful expansion into China, securing over 1 gigawatt of renewable energy projects.

1 min

UK Electricity Cleanest on Record in 2024: Study

Britain produced its cleanest Belectricity record at anest with output of fossil fuels at an all-time low and renewables reaching a record high, a study showed.

1 min

Consist Apparels Limited Earns Platinum LEED Certification

Consist Apparels Limited has become the first RMG factory this year to receive the prestigious Platinum LEED certification.

1 min

World's Largest Compressed Air Energy Storage Facility Commences Full Operation in China

A 300 MW compressed air energy Astorage (CAES) power station utilizing two underground salt caverns in central China's Hubei Province was successfully connected to the grid at full capacity, making it the largest operating project of the kind in the world.

1 min

JERA Wins Rights for 615MW Wind Project Offshore Japan

A consortium led by JERA Co. Inc.has secured the rights to develop and operate a 615 megawatt wind generation project offshore Aomori Prefecture in the Sea of Japan.

1 min

ADB to Provide $1.0b Annually for Bangladesh's Development

Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide US$ 1.0 billion to Bangladesh annually in concessional financing over the next five years.

1 min

Thailand's PTT Struggles to Go Green as EV Project Flops

State-run energy giant PTT's decarbonization efforts have hit a roadblock, as work on a joint EV factory with Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry that was to be the lynchpin of its strategy has been halted by sluggish demand for new vehicles.

1 min

Youth Urged to Lead Climate Adaptation Efforts in Ctg Hill Tracts

Experts and local have emphasized the crucial role of youth in addressing climate-related challenges and driving locally-led adaptation in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT).

1 min

Youth Must Lead Sustainable, Nature-Centric Development: Rizwana

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has emphasized the importance of youth leadership for sustainable development.

1 min

BIPSS Stresses National Policy Urgency to Address Climate Security Risks in Bangladesh

BIPSS President Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman has emphasized the necessity of developing a comprehensive national policy to address rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and other climate-induced risks, which could result in catastrophic consequences, including the loss of 20% of Bangladesh's landmass and mass displacement.

1 min

Climate-Smart Agriculture, Water Management to Enhance Crop Output Stressed

Experts at a recent workshop in Rangpur stressed on ensuring climate smart agriculture and water management to make irrigation water available to enhance crop output for ensuring food security amid climate change.

1 min

EU, EIB Pledged Support for Bangladesh's Environmental Protection Priorities: Rizwana

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will support Bangladesh in its environmental protection efforts, aligned with government priorities, including technical assistance, renewable energy initiatives, the introduction of electric public transport, capacity building for officials and measures to combat air and water pollution.

1 min

2024 was Hottest Year on Record for Norway's Arctic

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute said recently that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded for mostly Arctic northern Norway.

1 min

Climate Change Brought Extreme Weather, Heat in 2024: UN

Climate change sparked a trail of extreme weather and record heat in 2024, the United Nations said recently, urging the world to pull back from the \"road to ruin\".

1 min

Thrust on Enhanced BangladeshChina Cooperation in Environmental Management

Environment, Forest and Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan recently said Bangladesh and China can collaborate effectively in air quality management and sustainable development by learning from each other's policies, innovations, and community-driven approaches.

1 min

HFO-Based IPPs Cannot Operate Unless Dues Are Paid

Investment in power generation is not an offense.

7 mins

CONCERN PERSISTS OVER SHORTAGE OF NATURAL GAS

Not unsurprisingly the country has once again been in the grip of a gas crisis.

2 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.

Code of Ethics 
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. 

EP believes in 
o Seeking truth and reporting the same 
o Minimize harm