The government needs to prepare an integrated master plan for the power and energy sector by engaging the local professionals who have vast experience in the sector.

Experts said this at the webinar "Power-Energy Integrated Master Plan" organised by Energy and Power Magazine Saturday.

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An integrated master plan for the power and energy sector is crucial for the future of the sector, said Special Envoy of Climate Vulnerable Forum Presidency of Bangladesh Abul Kalam Azad at the programme.

Involving the experienced local professionals in preparing the master plan will be more pragmatic and efficient, he said. 

Bangladesh should focus on the development of renewables and hydrogen fuels as they will be the dominant sources of energy in the future, the envoy added. 

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"The country had set a target to generate 10% electricity from renewable sources by 2020, but it could not achieve over 3% of it. The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority did not get the right kind of leadership to achieve the goal, perhaps," Abul Kalam said.

There was a plan to set up solar plants at railway stations and all government buildings to generate renewable energy, but it was not implemented, he added.

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Former Petrobangla chairman of Muktadir Ali said all the previous master plans and projects were undertaken on an ad-hoc basis. "That is why there was always a lack of coordination between the plans and their implementation in the power and energy sector."