Only one out of 150 candidates fulfilled the eligibility criteria for being energy auditor, in an examination of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda). Such experience was shared by BUET Prof Dr Mohammad Zahirul Haque at a webinar organised by Energy and Power magazine on Saturday. The exam was held by Sreda last year just before the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country to appoint independent energy auditors. Dr Haque said although most of the candidates were BUET students, they forgot how to calculate the efficiency in energy use. The virtual seminar, tiled “Energy Efficiency Opportunities in RMG & Textile Industry”, was also addressed, among others by Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Sreda Chairman Mohammad Alauddin, President of Bangladesh Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq, energy expert Prof Nurul Islam, former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Asif Ibrahim and Idcol’s chief financial officer Nazmul Haque. Energy and Power editor Mollah Amzad Hossain conducted the seminar. Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi said the government entities should hear from the industry owners to remove their bottlenecks in pursuing their energy efficiency mechanism. “There should be proper coordination between Sreda, banks and industry owners so that the industry operators can easily avail the low-cost loans for making their industries energy efficient. Mohammad Alauddin said setting up Sreda itself reflects the government’s good intention to promote energy efficiency. He said Sreda has so far conducted energy auditing at 12 industries in the country and their results will be released soon through a publication. Sreda member Farzana Momtaz, who made the keynote presentation, said the readymade garment sector can reduce their energy cost by 16 percent if they pursue energy efficiency mechanism. It will reduce their cost and they will derive most benefits from global market being treated as green industry owners, she said. Rubana said although there is no adequate government support for energy efficiency, the garment sector itself made progress turning many of their industries into efficient. Some seven green factories, out of 10 which were recognised as most energy efficient across the globe, belong to Bangladesh, she said adding that so far 130 industries were converted into green industries and some 500 are now in the line of turning into efficient industries. She said the government incentives for such initiative are very inadequate. Prof Nurul Islam said the successful case industries of the energy efficiency should be published so that others can be encouraged to see the success. Asif Ibrahim said the government has to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks in providing support to the industries to make them efficient.