Experts call for less import dependence, stronger energy planning
Bangladesh needs to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen strategic planning, renewable energy, efficiency and supply-chain resilience to address its electricity and energy challenges, experts have said.
They made the observations at a seminar titled "Electricity, Energy Situation and the Way Forward", hosted by BRAC University at its Merul Badda campus on 8 September, according to a press release.
The university's newly launched Centre for Energy and Logistics (CEL) organised the event, bringing together policymakers, academics and energy-sector experts.
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Delivering the welcome address, CEL Advisory Council Chairman and BRAC University Board of Trustees member Dr Sultan Hafeez Rahman reflected on changes in Bangladesh's energy outlook since the global oil shock of the 1970s.
He said the country faced a serious energy problem because it had not sufficiently used its own strengths and had relied too heavily on external support to address domestic challenges.
He called on CEL to bring stakeholders together, conduct education and research, and provide policy advice that moved beyond merely identifying problems.
Lead Energy Analyst for Bangladesh at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Shafiqul Alam, delivered the first keynote presentation.
He identified reliance on imported, dollar-denominated fossil fuels as a central challenge facing the country's power and energy sector.
Shafiqul said peak electricity demand had reached 19,027 megawatts and highlighted risks arising from gas-supply disruptions, import dependence and rising generation costs.
He also discussed opportunities in renewable energy, rooftop solar systems and energy efficiency.
Container Company of Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Ahamedul Karim Chowdhury delivered the second keynote presentation, framing energy security as a logistics challenge involving the systems required to move energy from suppliers to consumers.
He examined liquefied natural gas and petroleum supply chains, infrastructure readiness and six resilience measures: diversity, redundancy, buffer capacity, connectivity, visibility and coordination.
A six-member panel later discussed strategic energy planning, sector reform, gas exploration, coal development, renewable energy and fuel security.
Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and CEL Advisory Council member Professor Dr Abdul Hasib Chowdhury discussed Bangladesh's strategic energy planning.
MJL Bangladesh Limited Managing Director, East Coast Group Chairman and CEL Advisory Council member Azam J Chowdhury addressed immediate crisis-response measures and energy-sector reform.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Senior Energy Advisor Siddique Zobair discussed the development of Bangladesh's energy sector, gas exploration and coal development.
Acting Chief Technology Officer of Ophanix Analytics and CEL Fellow Faiz Taiyeb joined online to discuss Bangladesh's power shortages and the absence of a fuel plan.
Director of the Centre for Energy Research at United International University (UIU) Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury reviewed the prospects and challenges of renewable energy.
BRAC Business School Professor and CEL Fellow Dr Sebastian Groh discussed the potential of Bangladesh's six million electric three-wheelers as an untapped power resource.
Attending as the chief guest, Adviser to the Prime Minister on the ministries of finance and planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir outlined government initiatives, including plans for a land-based regasification unit at Matarbari and the exploration of offshore gas blocks.
BRAC University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury and CEL Director Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan also addressed the event.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed; former interim government environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan; BRAC University Treasurer Ariful Islam; and BRAC Business School Dean Dr M Mujibul Haque were also present.
BRAC University said the seminar supported the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy and SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure.
