State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
Focus more on generating electricity from renewable sources: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has urged officials to pay more attention to generate electricity from renewable sources.
“You have to work with broader mindset to generate more electricity from the renewable sources,” he said, while virtually addressing a contract signing ceremony at Biduyt Bhaban on Sunday for setting up a 55 MW wind power plant in Mongla.
He said the wind project is the part of the government’s target to generate 10 percent of electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and 40 percent by 2040.
Also read: Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium, BPDB to sign deal for Mongla wind power plant tomorrow
A Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium signed the deal with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to set up the plant on a build-own-operate basis at Mongla in Bagerhat.
The Consortium of Envision Energy, (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., China, SQ Trading and Engineering, Bangladesh and Envision Renewable Energy Limited, Hong Kong will develop the plant under a new special project vehicle (SPV) company Mongla Green Power Ltd.
The project cost is expected to be around $96.597m.
At the Sunday’s function, BPDB director Golam Rabbani and Mongla Green Energy’s managing director Xu Wentao signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides.
As per the deal, the state-owned BPDB will purchase electricity from the plant at a levelized tariff of 13.20 Cents, equivalent to Tk13 per kilowatt hour (each unit).
The BPDB will purchase electricity from the independent power producer (IPP) plant over a period of 20 years spending a total of more than Tk 2000 crore.
Also read: Nasrul Hamid wants filling stations to get facelift, upgraded facilities
This has been the second deal for wind power for which the BPDB signed contract with the private sector sponsor.
Earlier, the BPDB signed the first deal with US-DK Green Energy (BD), a private firm, fir setting up a 60 MW wind power plant at Cox’s Bazar.
Nasrul Hamid inaugurated the ground breaking of the Cox’s Bazar plant in March this year.
Diesel price likely to come down in a day or two: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said the government will make a readjustment in the petroleum price in a day or two.“The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is analysing the impact of the duty cut on diesel import. Once it’s complete, the government will make the readjustment”, he told reporters on Monday.The state minister, however, said it’s still unclear as how much downward price adjustment would be possible at this stage as the price of fuel is again increasing in the international market.
Also read: Import tax on diesel cut by 5 percent The comments from the state minister came a day after the government cut the duty on diesel import by half to five per cent and abolished all advance taxes on its import.The changes were notified through a gazette notification issued by the National Board of Revenue on Sunday.The order came into effect immediately and will remain effective until the end of (December 31) this year.
Also read: Cabinet purchase body approves import of diesel, Jet fuel, LNG and fertilizerThe NBR notification added that light and high speed diesel oils will get the new facilities.
Hi-tech park to be developed in Keraniganj
A 15,000 square feet hi-tech park is going to be established in Keraniganj, southern suburb of Dhaka city.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid laid the foundation stone of the 7-story hi-tech park in Keraniganj.
Also read: 'Boosting electronics, hi-tech industry the need of the day'
Addressing a function on the occasion, he said the hi-tech park will play an important role in creating skilled manpower in the country.
“There is no alternative to create skilled manpower to get the results of the fourth industrial revolution”, he said adding the initiative to create skilled manpower will help face the future challenges.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami also addressed the function.
It was informed at the function that Tk 200 crore will be invested in the hi-tech park project which will have facilities to provide training to 1000 people per year.
Also read:KEPZ Hi-Tech park will attract huge FDI, hopes Palak
In addition, some 3000 more people will get the opportunity to be employed directly and indirectly under the project.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak said the government has been implementing a huge number of projects to develop digital Bangladesh.
“Already cent percent of people have access to electricity while 13 crore people are using the internet,” he said.
Govt doesn’t want to raise power, energy tariffs right now: Nasrul
The government doesn’t want to raise the tariffs of power and energy at this moment, said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Monday.
“We’re trying to keep the situation stable through providing subsidies. But if any big change comes from the international perspective, then a decision may come from the government to raise the prices,” he said.
Nasrul was addressing a Meet the Press event on Payra Power Plant’s inauguration scheduled for March 21.
Also read: PGCB signs deals with Chinese JVs on 11 power grid substations in Khulna
He said the government has to count huge loss in the energy and power sector due to the price hike in global market for the Russia-Ukraine war.
He mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the country’s first 1320 ultra-super critical coal-fired power plant at Payra on March 21.
The developer of the plant—North West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) and Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) jointly organized the function at the Biduyt Bhaban.
Nasrul said Bangladesh will reach a milestone through the inauguration of Payra power plant as it has been the first ultra-super critical power which is environment-friendly.
He noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also announce the cent per cent coverage of electrification across the country through the programme.
He said currently the country's 99.85 percent areas and families are getting electricity as the country has been generating 13000 MW power.
Power Secretary Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman Delwar Hossain, NWPGCL managing director Khurshed Alam, FERB chairman Shamim Jahangir and executive director Rishan Nasrullah were present on the occasion.
Also read: Bangladesh’s delayed import of electricity from 1600 MW Jharkhand plant in India may start in November
The state minister said the demand for electricity is rising by 200 MW per day.
Regarding the surplus electricity generation he said if there is no surplus generation, the country will have to experience load shedding in the coming summer.
He said the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has to incur a loss of Tk 80 crore per day due to the hike in the price of petroleum in global market.
“The monthly loss will be Tk 2500 crore if the situation continues. It is a big question, how far we could afford this huge loss,” he said.
Nasrul Hamid noted that there is no problem until now for project implementation in the country where the Russian firms are involved due to the sanctions on Russia.
Responding to a question, he said that though the Payra power plant will be inaugurated, it will need to wait until December this year to reach the electricity to Dhaka due to delay in implementation of the transmission line projects.
Ministry to offer financial support to promote research in energy, power sector: Nasrul
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that his ministry will provide financial support to promote research and creative works in the energy and power sector.
“We will provide financial support from Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council to any creative and research works by the new generation in the power and energy sector”, he said while addressing the economic award giving ceremony at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in the city.
A total of 788 students of the university received the academic awards for Spring Semester while 423 for Summer Semester and 572 for Autumn Semester in the function.
Appreciating the IUB move, the state minister said incentives and encouragement should be continued for good works of the new generation.
Also read: Planning to generate 40 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2050: Nasrul Hamid
He said reaching electricity to the grassroots level has resulted in expansion of economic activities.
Nasrul Hamid mentioned that a resolution was accepted by the United Nations to upgrade Bangladesh to the developing country’s category from the least developed countries (LDCs).
Now the young generation has to work to implement the vision to become a developed nation by 2041, he said.
Read: Clean energy to be imported from neighbouring countries: Nasrul
He urged the young people to get mentally prepared to match them with the developed world.
He also focused on the potentials of renewable energy in the country and advised the IUB authority to set up a rooftop solar power system on the roof of the university buildings with the help of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda).
Clean energy to be imported from neighbouring countries: Nasrul
Steps will be taken to import clean energy from the neighbouring nations alongside the ongoing efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.
He revealed the plan while addressing a presentation session of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) on the country’s power transmission plan at a city hotel on Saturday.
Nasrul said new sources of renewable energies are coming up to boost the energy mix against the backdrop of global climate change.
Held with power secretary Habibur Rahman in the chair, the function was also addressed by Planning Commission member Sharifa Khan. Additional secretary of the power division Nurul Alam conducted the event.
Read: USAID launches new clean energy project in Bangladesh
Director of Power Grid Company India Limited Abhay Chowdhury made a presentation on the topic.
Planning to generate 40 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2050: Nasrul Hamid
State minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid has said that Bangladesh is planning to generate 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050.
“We want to generate 40 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2050. Power system master plan is being updated to achieve the target,” he said while addressing the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy on Friday.
Through a video message to the event he said that a draft roadmap-2041 is being reviewed by the government for implementing solar power projects. Currently projects are being implemented as per the renewable energy roadmap-2030.
He mentioned that about 20 million rural people came under the electricity coverage through solar home systems in the off-grid areas of the country.
Also read: Renewable energy could be Bangladesh’s best option post Covid-19
“Among other options of renewable energy, solar power has huge potential for Bangladesh. But since it required huge amount of land, it needs innovative solution,” he told the conference.
Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh is now promoting the options of rooftop and floating solar and net metering system has been introduced to popularise the use of solar power.
“There is a good opportunity to work on wind-power as well,” he said adding that wind mapping has been completed for 9 potential sites and feasibility will be conducted on the potential for offshore wind-power.
Also read: Emphasis on increasing renewable energy’s share in power generation: Nasrul
The state minister mentioned that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear energy are going to be used as primary fuels for base-load power plants while import of electricity is getting importance in the power generation plan.
He said Bangladesh has been importing 1,160 MW of electricity from neighboring India while the country desires to import electricity from clean sources like hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan and solar power from India in future.
Introduce customer-friendly electric vehicle recharging policy: Nasrul
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has advised the authorities concerned to make a customer-friendly electric vehicle (EV) recharging policy as EVs will dominate the future transport sector.
“We’ve to put in place a pragmatic policy on this most burning issue considering its various aspects,” he said while speaking at a virtual meeting on “Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Re-charging” on Sunday.
Read Quick energy supply: Cabinet approves 5-yr extension of special provision
The location of recharging stations, the types of the vehicles and other issues should be brought under consideration while framing a policy guideline for recharging electric vehicles, Nasrul said.
Power Secretary Md Habibur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council Satyajit Karmakar, chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) Mohammad Alauddin, chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) Belayet Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BERB) Moin Uddin, director general of Power Cell Mohammad Hossain and heads of departments of various organizations also attended the virtual meeting.
Read: Uninterrupted affordable energy main challenge in future: Nasrul Hamid
Year-wise roadmap made to implement renewable energy policy: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasral Hamid on Thursday said that a year-wise roadmap has been drawn up to implement the government’s renewable energy policy.
He made the remarks while speaking at a webinar titled: “The International Forum for Energy Transition 2021” aimed at paving the way for carbon neutrality and green development
He noted that Bangladesh has been the champion country in the world by installing six million solar home systems to bring 20 million people within the electricity access in the off-grid areas.
State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) jointly organised the online seminar which was moderated by SGCC executive vice president Pang Xiaogang.
He said the government has taken initiative to install rooftop solar panels in all educational institutions to increase solar power.
Also read: Uninterrupted affordable energy main challenge in future: Nasrul Hamid
Nasrul Hamid said charging and operating guidelines was prepared to promote the electric vehicle (EV) across the country.
“With the help of JICA, now we have been working on preparing an integrated master plan for energy and power sectors to encourage the zero carbon emissions”, he said adding that the new master plan will discourage the use of fossil fuel and promote the use of renewable energy.
The state minister informed that the government has already cancelled 10 coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 8451 MW as part of its move for promoting green energy.
“Bangladesh is committed to increasing the use of green and clean energy”, he added.
Bangladesh will carry out its development plans by ensuring rationality between socio-economic development and environmental protection.
Egyptian minister for power and renewable energy Dr. Mohamed Shakar El Markaby, UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy Damilola Ogunbiyi, Secretary General of the World Energy Council Dr. Angela Wilkinson and Executive Chairman of the State Grid Corporation for China Xin Baoan also spoke on the occasion.
Uninterrupted affordable energy main challenge in future: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that providing uninterrupted electricity and gas at affordable and sustainable price is future challenge for the country.
“We’ve already achieved the goal in power generation. Now our goal is uninterrupted power and energy supply at affordable and sustainable price”, he told a webinar on “Bangabandhu's Energy Strategies & Our Energy Security”, organised by Energy and Power magazine on Sunday.
The virtual seminar was also addressed by eminent economist Dr Ahsan H Mansur, member of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Syed Mokbul Elahi, Prof Nurul Islam, expatriate Bangladeshi Dr. Firoz Alam, and Power Cell director general Mohammad Hossain while Mollah Amzad Hossain conducted the function. Khondaker Abdus Saleque made keynote presentation on the issue.
Lauding the role of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in ensuring energy security by purchasing four gas fields from a foreign company in 1975, Nasrul Hamid said the Awami League government is following the same path by putting special emphasis on achieving sufficiency in power and energy supply.
Read: 10 coal-fired power projects scrapped as part of master plan revision: Nasrul Hamid
“Power and energy sector played the key role in achieving economic growth of over 7 per cent”, said the state minister adding that global energy scenario and technology has been changing so fast.
“That’s why we need to adopt short and medium-term strategy to cope with the global trend in energy sector”, he said.
Nasrul Hamid said the government is now working on setting a right strategy for ensuring an affordable energy price keeping in mind the future demand.
We will need to import more gas in future to meet the demand as the domestic gas exploration and production is a time consuming matter, he said adding the economy will suffer a lot if gas is not imported as more manufacturing industries are coming in production.
Read: Dhaka consumes 46% of the electricity Bangladesh generates: Nasrul Hamid
Dr Ahsan H Mansur said people don’t expect cheaper power and energy. “But they expect uninterrupted power and energy at an affordable price”.
Urging the government for giving more emphasis on energy efficiency and choosing right technology for energy sector, he said efficiency will play the key role in fixing energy price in future.
Dr Firoz Alam said the government should pay attention on creating skilled manpower for efficient energy sector.
In this regard, he suggested collaboration between the Bangladeshi institutions with foreign universities and institutions.
Expatriate Bangladeshis can play role in this regard as well, he added.