State Minister for Power, Energy and Minerals Resources Nasrul Hamid has sought the help of Asian Development Bank (ADB) to create a regional power market. “ADB can help create a marketplace in the region so that countries can trade electricity as per their necessity”, he told Takeo Konishi, the South Asia Director General of the ADB when he called on the state minister at his office in the ministry on Monday. Under the arrangement, countries can export electricity to Nepal and Bhutan during the winter season, he said. UCB taking steps to offer easy loans to agricultural entrepreneurs During the meeting they discussed various issues related to mutual interest. Welcoming the ADB Director General Nasrul Hamid said that the number of ADB-funded projects should be increased. He said Bangladesh has a plan to import 9000 MW of power. “We need a good consultant to advise us to set the actual price of energy in this regard and ADB can help us address this issue”, he said. Finance Minister affirms Bangladesh's economic resilience amid challenges The state minister noted that the government is giving importance to the participation of individuals and private organisations in optimising the use of resources beside the participation of the government. He noted that bonds are being issued to reduce the subsidy in the power sector. The government has taken initiative to convert some 13 lakh diesel-run pumps into solar pumps. He said that it will yield good results if they can work simultaneously for technological development and building a common computer data centre. ICMAB delegation takes part in pre-budget discussion with NBR The ADB director general discussed the issue of increasing private sector participation in the energy transition, electric vehicle, energy infrastructure and solar energy roadmaps for financing, regional interconnection and project readiness. It is notable that ADB has financed $2.57 billion in 7 projects in the power sector. In 2023, ADB approved two projects worth $360 million while 3 projects are under implementation and 5 remain as request for proposal in the energy sector. At this time, Asian Development Bank Country Director Ed Ginting (Edemon Ginting) was present.

State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid on Thursday said the return from the battery-run auto-rickshaws is manifold compared to the electricity they use. “I call these 4 million three wheelers as the Tesla of Bangla. They are using their own creativity to build these. We are not stopping them,” he said so in reference to American electric carmaker Tesla. The state minister said this in Parliament while responding to a supplementary question of ruling party MP elected from Narayanganj Shamim Osman. “It may have mechanical faults. The return is much higher compared to the electricity that they are using. About 40 lakh rickshawpullers, who are using electricity, are earning” he said. No narcotic substances found in energy drinks: Industries Minister  He said the government is trying to move from lead batteries to lithium batteries. “We are working on a project regarding this matter. We will supply them with lithium batteries and take away the lead batteries,” he said. Osman in his supplementary question said that the battery-operated auto-rickshaws are running and they are very dangerous and should not be allowed to run. He said that these auto-rickshaws steal 90 percent of its electricity for charging batteries. “They are consuming 700-800 MW of our electricity. Do you take any special initiative to stop them all over the country?" he asked. Bangladesh is doing well in IMF terms: Finance Minister In reply, Hamid said that there is a revolution going on now all over the world on how quickly the transport system can be transformed to electric vehicles. He mentioned that the efficiency of an oil-powered car is 20 percent. On the other hand, the efficiency level of the electricity-run engine is 80 percent. “Basically we encourage electric cars to come to market as fast as possible.” He mentioned that if it takes Tk 100 to go a distance in an oil-powered vehicle, it will take Tk 20 to go that distance in an electricity-run vehicle. “There are over 40 lakh vehicles in Bangladesh which use lead batteries. It takes 7/8 hours to charge them. If there are lithium batteries, it will take only half-an-hour,” he said. Electricity demand may rise to about 17,500 MW in coming summer: Nasrul The state minister said that the Power Division has made a policy to set up electric vehicle charging stations. According to this policy, anyone can make a charge station. He said that public transports (buses) in Bangladesh should be transformed into electricity-run quickly. “It will be cheaper and environment-friendly,” he said. Hamid said that Bangladesh's transport sector emits 18 percent of carbon. However, he said, there is concern about the illegal use of electricity. “We are concerned about it. Electricity companies are keeping an eye on whether illegal electricity is being used anywhere. Most are now using meters instead of taking electricity illegally,” he said.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Thursday said the demand for electricity may rise to about 17,500 MW in the coming summer. He, however, said that the currently total power generation capacity is 29,727 MW including that from captive and off-grid renewable energy. Environment minister calls for optimal execution of 'BEST' project to combat air pollution  “And the grid-based production capacity is 26,504 MW. Among them, natural gas-based production capacity is 11,350 MW (43 percent), furnace oil-based 6,492 MW (24 percent), diesel-based 826 MW (3 percent), coal-based 4,491 MW (17 percent), hydro 230 MW (1 percent ), solar power(grid) 459 MW (two percent) and imported electricity is 2656 MW (10 percent),” he said. Home Minister visits pavilions at World Defence Show The state minister said these in Parliament while responding to a written question of AL lawmaker elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif. In fiscal year 2022-23, he said against the demand of electricity during summer, the generation on April 19 was 15,648 MW in the peak hours. Inflation will ease by end of current fiscal year: Finance Minister Due to reduced demand of electricity in winter, the maximum production of electricity this year has come down to 10,000 to 12,000 MW.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that realistic measures have been taken for power generation. “The Power Division has been working on as how to use the hydrogen and ammonia as energy alongside the conventional sources of energy”, he told a workshop on “Techno-Economic Study of Electricity Generation Technologies for Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities” at Bidyut Bhaban in the city on Monday. 9 more wells to be drilled in Bhola to expedite local gas production: Nasrul Hamid He informed the workshop that nuclear power will come to the national grid soon. “Some 12,047 MW of electricity is now in different stages of generation”, he added. Bloomberg NEF, a US technology and financial strategic research organization, presented research on various sources of power generation in Bangladesh and its cost in this workshop. He said availability of non-agricultural land is one of the major problems in the promotion of renewable energy in Bangladesh. Uninterrupted gas supply by 2026 : Nasrul Hamid outlines energy plans “We are also moving forward with onshore and offshore wind power. One of our main goals is to provide uninterrupted power at affordable cost. Special emphasis is now being laid on modernisation of transmission and distribution systems and also grid synchronization”, he added. The head of Bloomberg's Asia Pacific Region Dr. Ali Izadi, South Asia Market Leader Isshu Kikuma and Senior Associate Tarun Blakrishnan presented the research paper on behalf of Bloomberg at the workshop. They emphasised on supporting renewable energy at the utility scale, increasing the use of rooftop and floating solar, and training for clean technology jobs. They pointed out that  carbon emissions can be reduced by mixing coal with ammonia or natural gas with hydrogen, but the cost will be high, while the use of batteries with solar or batteries with wind is much more cost-effective. Challenges in power and energy supply to increase in global context: Nasrul Hamid The event conducted by Nirod Chandra Mandal, Joint Secretary of Power Department, was also addressed among others by Member of Parliament Nahim Razzak, Senior Secretary of Power Department Md. Habibur Rahman, Srade Chairman Munira Sultana, BPDB Chairman Md. Mahbubur Rahman, BREB Chairman Ajay Kumar Chakraborty, Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain, Professor of BUET Ijaz Ahmed, Professor of Dhaka University Badrul Imam, Director of Energy Research Center Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury and heads of departments.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that the government has a plan to introduce an automatic fuel price adjustment system in the next two months. “We have been working on modernising the pricing policy to get out of the subsidy in selling petroleum. Under the system, when the price goes up or down in the global market, local prices will be automatically adjusted with new price”, he told reporters on his last day of office as the state minister for power and energy in the tenure of the current government.    Nasrul Hamid said that the government has no control over the global energy price. Army chief inspects military activities in Jashore, Savar, Dhaka ahead of polls “If there is any energy crisis on the global market, we need to face it efficiently and the government always tries to remain prepared to face”. Mentioning looming risk of a new crisis centring the Middle East crisis against the backdrop of any possible new war, he said if the situation deteriorates, the power and energy supply situation may worsen. “We are getting prepared but worries prevail about the level of the energy crisis”, he added. 1 more dengue patient dies; 153 hospitalised in 24hrs About any possibility of power tariff reduction after commencement of a number of new base-load large power plants, he said there would not be much benefit from it because of the dollar price escalation.  Prices of primary fuels like coal and petroleum may decline, but due to increasing rates of dollars, overall generation cost is not coming down. He said that the Chevron-operated Bibiyana gas field’s gas reserve has a potential to get over 1 TCF (trillion cubic feet) of gas in the new area where drilling works are taking place. He mentioned that gas production may decrease towards 2025-26, but the gap will be filled in 2027 with the new import plant. Dense fog disrupts flight operations at Dhaka airport; 13 flights diverted Currently, the US-based Chevron Bangladesh is producing gas from a total of three blocks. They have Bibiyana gas field in block-12, Jalalabad gas field in block-13, Moulvibazar gas field in block-14. Bibiyana is one of the largest gas fields in the country. The 3 gas fields produce about 44.3 percent while total gas production is about 2200 MMCFD in Bangladesh.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has shared an explanation on why load shedding has become more acute and frequent in Bangladesh as people struggle with the ongoing sweltering heat.  “People of Bangladesh are suffering during this scorching heat. Use of air conditioners and fans is increasing, and people are using these devices for comfort,” the state minister wrote in a post on his verified Facebook profile. Read more: BTMA seeks smooth gas-electricity supply and loan moratorium to survive On June 3, Bangladesh generated 13,635 MW of electricity, yet there was load shedding, he noted. Imagine what would have happened in the country today if 3000 MW of electricity were being produced as was the case during the last BNP-Jamaat government, he wrote. “The Awami League government has provided electricity to all the villages and cities in the country. This is a people's government, so the government wants to deal with this crisis with the cooperation of everyone,” Nasrul Hamid wrote in the post. Read more: 1500 MW of electricity from solar systems can be generated in next 1 year: Speakers He urged everyone to save electricity from their individual position.

Ilisha-1 in Bhola district was announced to be the 29th gas field of Bangladesh where substantial gas was found recently. “We believe, Ilisha-1 has a reserve of 200 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas. The entire Bhola area, including this one, has a reserve of 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told reporters today (May 22, 2023) during a briefing at his Dhaka residence while formally announcing the discovery of the gas field. He said this is great news for the people of the country. Also Read: 3 strikes for Ilisha-1: another drill test finds gas Ilisha-1 is located in an union in Bhola district, about 182 km from the capital city Dhaka. On March 8 this year, Ilisha-1 excavation started in the Maler Hat area of Ilisha union under Bhola Sadar upazila and the drilling was completed successfully on April 24 through the Drill Stem Test in three levels at a depth of 3,475 metres. The state minister said earlier that gas was found in different wells under Bhola north and Bhola south structures. He said a plan is being prepared to bring gas from the Bhola area to Dhaka through a pipeline where many industries are facing a nagging gas shortage. Read more: Chevron inks deals to dig more wells at expanded Bibiyana gas field A pre-feasibility was conducted and now work is in progress for conducting a feasibility study on the issue, he noted. Nasrul Hamid said it will take about 3 years to bring the gas from Bhola to Dhaka through a pipeline. Initially, he said, a private company has signed a contract to bring a total of 25 mmcfd gas from Bhola through a big trailer. Primarily, it will start with 5 mmcfd. He informed that the government has a plan to create a ring-fence of pipeline covering Bhola, Barishal and Dhaka to use the gas for this region while another ring-fence will be created covering the districts in Dhaka, Sylhet and others. Read more: 2nd phase of directional drilling at Srikail North Gas field starts He said the commercial value of the gas in Bhola will be Tk 6500 crore if calculated in local value and Tk 26000 crore in the value of gas being imported. Nasrul Hamid said the Ilisha-1 gas field’s discovery was announced after completion of necessary drilling and other works. Currently, about 2300 mmcfd gas is being produced from 22 gas fields in the country, while about 700 mmcfd gas is being imported to meet the demand of about 4000 mmcfd, leaving a deficit of about 1000 mmcfd. Apart from Ilisha-1, two Bhola gas fields have around 200 mmcf production capacity, while the production hovers between 80-85 mmcf. Read more: China’s Sinopec to drill for gas at Well No-10 of Sylhet Gas Field Therefore, around 120 mmcf surplus capacity remains unused in the eight wells of the Shahbazpur and Bhola gas fields. Due to the lack of pipeline and transmission facilities, the government of Bangladesh was unable to supply the surplus gas from the Bhola field to energy-hungry industrial zones in Dhaka and elsewhere.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has urged the businessmen to stop the use of illegal gas connections. “Whenever we visit a factory, we find that if there is a legal gas connection, there are three more illegal connections bypassing the main one”, he told a seminar at Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) where a good number of leading entrepreneurs representing different sectors including textile and readymade garments were present. “Please stop these illegal gas connections. Your illegal connections actually deprive other industries of getting their right to using gas”, he told the businessmen. He also said,”I don’t want to publish the list of those industries. The Names  of many large and leading industries are there. They are very much influential.” Read more: BGMEA wants illegal gas connections to be snapped The DCCI organised a seminar titled: “Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Energy Strategy: Towards a Predictable Future” with its president Barrister Md Sameer Sattar. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Faruque Hasan, energy expert and Dhaka University Professor Badrul Imam, former FBCCI president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Summit Power director Faisal Karim Khan, Pran RFL Group chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, and Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) president Naser Ezaz Bijoy spoke on the occasion. Making a presentation on the current scenario and the government’s future plan Nasrul said the government is planning to build a land-based LNG terminal at the Matarbari deep sea port within 4 years at a cost of $4 billion. “It will help ensure energy security, especially in the import of gas from abroad. If this land-based terminal is built, there will be no need to remove the terminal to the deep sea during any storm,”he said. Read more: Govt moves to setting power, gas prices based on international market: Nasrul Secondly, large ships will be able to arrive in the port with 18 meter water depth which will reduce the transportation cost, he added. The seminar witnessed a debate between the state minister and Professor Badrul Imam on the issue of gas exploration across the country for finding more gas. Nasrul said that he is confused whether there is no gas in the country or any more gas in the country. Responding to this remarks, Prof Badul Imam said there is nothing to be confused with availability of gas in the country as many international research groups including USGS proved their scientific research and data that still the country has a reserve of between 32 and 42 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of gas. Read more: Petrobangla initiates move to end foreign company’s monopoly in pre-paid gas metering system "Recent finding of gas in Bhola also proves the presence of more gas in the country,”said Dr Imam. Nasrul Hamid also said that the government will not allow industries to be developed without any specific industrial zone to ensure the planned supply of gas and electricity. He said that the government will allow the private sector to come into the energy business so that any enterprise can import gas and supply to any industry with its own choice at their negotiated rate. He reiterated the government plan to set the prices of power, gas and petroleum fuels on the basis of international market price. Read more: No downward adjustment in power, gas tariffs until stability in fuel price: Tawfiq Elahi “We’re working on it to come out of the current trend of subsidy provision for the energy sector,”he said. He, however, said there is no plan of the government to raise gas or power prices before the coming budget.  FICCI president Naser Ezaz Bijoy said transparency is needed to fix the energy prices. Former DCCI president Sabur Khan said the illegal gas consumers should be brought under law. Read more: ACC acquits 5, inc. recent minister's son in illegal gas connections case

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that Bangladesh requires $170 billion dollars investment in the power and energy sector by 2041. He said while addressing a session on "Strengthening the Future of Economic Growth of Bangladesh" at the high-level discussion meeting titled "U.S.-Bangladesh Economic Partnership: Shared Vision for Smart Growth" organized by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC on Tuesday. “There are profitable investment opportunities in different sectors and sub-sectors like LNG, renewable energy, smart grid, smart distribution, electric vehicle infrastructure, onshore and offshore hydrocarbon exploration,” said the state minister. Read More: Investment in Bangladesh will bring huge success: PM Hasina to Japanese businesses He also said that upgrading gas infrastructure, setting up petrochemical industries, reducing GHG emissions, smart gas distribution are among the sectors where US companies can invest and the government will provide special incentives to foreign investors. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the vision of building a smart Bangladesh to build the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “It needs financial investment as well as technical and knowledge-based cooperation to realise the vision,” he said adding that investment should come not only from multilateral development agencies, but also from the public and private sectors. Read More: Momen due to leave for US Friday with trade and investment high on agenda Eric Walker, president of Chevron's Bangladesh office and Dr. John Ardil, vice president of Exxon Mobil also addressed the event.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that the government has initiated a move to expedite the gas exploration and production activities in the country to increase the primary fuel supply. “All the planning is being undertaken targeting to build a developed Bangladesh by 2041”, he told a seminar on energy security at the Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city on Sunday. He said the country has already achieved a target to reach electricity to all the doorsteps. “Now we have one hundred percent access to electricity”, he said adding that the government is now working to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.   Abul Kalam Azad, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister, made a keynote presentation on the present state of energy security, future initiatives and the challenges of renewable energy at the seminar. Power secretary Habibur Rahman, president of International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman, Summit Group chairman Mahbubur Rahman, GE Gas Power South chief executive officer Asia Deepesh Nanda, and Max Group chairman Golam Mohammad Alamgir also spoke on the occasion while eminent energy expert Prof Ijaz Hosain moderated the event.  Nasrul Hamid said that the development activities of Bangladesh should be taken considering the context of Bangladesh. Electrification in remote areas has expanded area-based development. As a result, he said, a balanced development is ensured. He also discussed natural gas, LNG, LPG, future electricity and energy planning, mineral coal, fuel mix, clean energy, energy conservation, and versatile sources of energy at the seminar.