RSS Feed (xml)
fund exclusively for the development of renewable energy, the
agriculture minister said yesterday. "We have taken many steps to
promote renewable energy and business to benefit the poor and bring
down the cost within their capability. We are also thinking of
floating bond to create a separate fund, " Matia Chowdhury told a
roundtable conference in Dhaka yesterday. Bangladesh Renewable Energy
Society (BRES) organised the discussion on 'Implementation of
National Renewable Energy Policy' at the Bangladesh Institute of
International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Prime Minister's Adviser
on Energy Tawfiq-e- Elahi Chowdhury also spoke at the programme.
"Alternative energy sources of power for irrigation are now on the
high agenda of the government," Tawfiq said. Through the renewable
energy policy, rolled out by the immediate caretaker administration,
the government sets a target to meet 5 percent of the total energy
demand by 2015 and 10 percent by 2020. The policy also aims at
setting up an institution, Sustainable Energy Development Agency
(SEDA) , for development and promotion of sustainable energy in
Bangladesh where nearly 40 percent of about 150 million population
are connected to the national electricity grid. The discussants said
development and expansion of renewable energy can meet much of the
energy demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuel such as coal, gas
and oil to generate power. They also demanded faster implementation of
the policy and formation of SEDA to help expand the technology,
mainly solar system, which can also be used to light street lamps,
supply electricity to the national grid along with lighting off-grid
remote areas. To light homes in off-grid localities, the government
had earlier initiated measures to promote renewable energy
technologies such as establishment of Solar Home Systems (SHS) in
remote areas. To promote the renewable energy further, the
government, in its current fiscal year has exempted solar panels from
VAT and taxes while Bangladesh Bank had earlier also launched a Tk
200 crore fund to facilitate establishment of ETPs (Effluent
Treatment Plants) and renewable energy technologies. Spelling out her
government's top priority on energy, the agriculture minister said,
"We are actively promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
To bring the technology forward, especially for irrigation purpose,
the minister called on the scientists and stakeholders to come up
with solar-based technology to operate irrigation equipment. "This
will save a huge amount of money," said Matia. Chaired by BRES
Chairman Muhammad Zamir, the discussion was also addressed by South
Korean Ambassador Suk Bum Park, Charge D' Affaires of the German
Embassy in Dhaka Rolf Deiter Rein Heard, Grammeen Shakti Managing
Director Dipal C Barua and Chairman of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy
Ltd Niaz Rahim.
