Energy minister urges NGOs to drive net metering expansion
The solar programme will be implemented through cluster-based projects and rooftop net metering, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud says.
Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood yesterday urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help expand the country's net metering system to accelerate renewable energy adoption and rooftop solar generation.
The government has prioritised renewable energy to tackle the energy crisis and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves, he said at the "National Workshop on Voice of Development," organised by the National Development Programme (NDP) in Dhaka.
The government has approved a new solar policy and aims to generate 10,000MW of solar power during its current term, he said, adding that achieving the target would reduce energy imports and free up foreign currency for other development needs.
The solar programme will be implemented through cluster-based projects and rooftop net metering, under which consumers can feed surplus electricity generated from rooftop solar panels into the national grid after meeting their own demand and receive financial benefits. NGOs could play a vital role in expanding the system, he said.
The minister said international lenders, including the World Bank, are increasingly interested in financing renewable energy, creating opportunities for NGOs to access concessional funding for solar, wind and biogas projects.
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He urged NGOs to move beyond grant dependence and use low-cost financing from development partners and banks to implement commercially viable renewable energy projects, including solar-powered irrigation and rural net metering, saying this would strengthen the country's energy security.
Describing the sector's challenges, the minister said Bangladesh's reliance on imported fuel has made power generation increasingly expensive. Nearly $2 billion had to be spent on importing petroleum and other fuels within two months of the government's taking office, putting heavy pressure on foreign exchange reserves, while rising global LNG prices have further increased generation costs and subsidies.
He also praised the contributions of NGOs, including Grameen Bank and BRAC, to Bangladesh's socio-economic development, while urging them to uphold good governance and avoid becoming family-centric organisations.
Responding to NGO representatives, he said he would convey their request for a meeting with the prime minister.
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said the development sector has faced a severe funding crisis since the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 25,000 development workers losing their jobs due to declining foreign aid.
She called for stronger collaboration among NGOs, the government and the private sector, greater use of corporate social responsibility funds, and efforts to dispel negative perceptions of NGOs.
