State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said on Sunday that the government’s main goal is to provide energy at affordable cost.

“We need to conduct more research studies to find alternative sources of sustainable energy”, he said while addressing at a contract signing function of the Hydrocarbon Unit of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Sunday.   

The Hydrocarbon Unit appointed 10 researchers to carry out research on to implement the National Energy Security programme for the financial year 2023-24.

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Nasrul Hamid urged the researchers to conduct their research from Bangladesh perspective and find alternative energy solutions.

He said the government has introduced a net metering system to promote solar power across the country which made renewable energy affordable and business friendly.

He said that though the use of renewable energy is growing fast, many countries are now focusing on the bio-fuel promotion.

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"So, we need to focus on bio-fuel promotion," he said.

Energy and Mineral Resources Secretary Md. Nurul Alam presided over the function while Director General of Hydrocarbon Unit Md. Shamim Khan spoke at the event.

The researchers who signed contracts include Dr Syed Humayun Akhtar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, Professor of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). A.B.M. Alim Al Islam, Professor of Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Jessore University of Science and Technology Dr. Md. Minhaj Uddin Monir, Professor of Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science Department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Muhammad Rakib Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) Mosharraf Hossain, Associate Professor M. Saiful Islam, Department of Geology, University of Dhaka.

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Associate Professor of Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology Mohammad Islam Mia and Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Department of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology. Md: Mahmudul Hasan Mondal.