Policymakers, energy experts, business leaders and development partners have called for accelerated domestic gas exploration, greater private sector participation, stronger LNG infrastructure and a predictable regulatory framework to ensure Bangladesh’s long-term energy security and support its transition to a sustainable energy system.
The recommendations came at the “Bangladesh’s Energy Security and Transition” Policy Conclave, organized by Bonik Barta at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka recently.
More than 500 participants, including government officials, industry leaders, energy specialists, development partners and representatives from financial institutions, attended the event.
Addressing the conclave as the chief guest, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh had focused heavily on expanding electricity generation over the past 17 years while paying inadequate attention to developing domestic fuel resources.
He noted that although the country has developed around 28,000 MW of power generation capacity, the lack of adequate fuel supply has prevented the full utilization of that capacity.
“Not a single new gas well was drilled over the past 17 years. As a result, Bangladesh has become increasingly dependent on imported energy,” he said.
