Dhaka, August 13, 2020 (EP) - Speakers at a webinar on Thursday stressed the need for proper utilization of the local energy resources along with other alternative options, including imports, to ensure the country’s economic growth under any circumstances.
They apprehended that the high dependence only on imported fuel would sometime cause difficulties in continuing with the development activities of the country due to volatility that often arises in the international energy market.
“It’s not true that we are not doing anything about coal development. We’re conducting different studies on coal,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told the webinar in response to the urges for using local resources like coal.
“But that our Prime Minister’s priority is the people and the environment first,” he said.
The speakers pointed out that a complete study on Phulbari coal mine has already been done and the government should go for developing it.
Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) organized the seminar in support with Bangladesh Independent Power Producers’ Association (BIPPA) titled “Bangabandhu: Energy Security and Today’s Bangladesh.”
The programme was organized to commemorate the historic move taken by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in taking over five gas fields from Shell Oil at a cost of 4.5 million pound on August 9 in 1975.
Bangabandhu had dropped a broader hint about using local resources through taking over the gas fields, the webinar was told.
Speakers at the meeting also stressed on ensuring availability of energy at affordable price and quality services to the consumers to boost the country’s overall economic growth target.
They also emphasized on the need for good governance in the power and energy sector.
They recommended exploration of onshore and offshore blocks, and quick retirement of expensive and inefficient oil-fired power plants to streamline the sector.
Mr Hamid said the government has opened up the scope of using multi-energy sources to reduce the risks of depending on any specific sort of energy and mitigate the risks in future, if any.
It was also working on ensuring affordable and quality supply of power and energy, and establishing good governance in the sector for its sustainable growth.
He said that money is no more a problem to implement the power and energy projects, but the problem remains in lack of adequate manpower.
The government is trying to introduce modern technology and paperless office to ensure good governance, he said, adding that the government will ensure 100 percent electricity access within the ongoing Mujib Year.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammed Farashuddin, who was also the personal secretary of Bangabandhu, said Bangabandhu was keen on electrification of the war-ravaged country and had instructed all for rural electrification.
Making a presentation, Mollah Amzad Hossain, Editor of Energy & Power magazine, said Bangabandhu wanted optimum use of own resources though the country has not unlimited resources.
He urged the policymakers to follow the Bangabandhu's philosophy as well as making up the energy gap with imports. He thought mine-mouth power plant would be a viable option for Bangladesh and estimated that about 30 per cent cost will be reduced if the country sets up power plant on own coal.
FERB president Arun Karmakar chaired the event, while FERB executive director Shamim Jahangir moderated the virtual seminar.
BPDB Former Chairman Khaled Mahmood, BAPEX Former Managing Director Mortuza Ahmed Faruque, BIPPA president Imran Karim, energy expert Khondakar Abdus Saleque and FERB member also spoke on the occasion.
