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. 

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“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.

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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.