Bangladesh is set to add around 1,210MW of electricity to the national grid this week as the government moves to ease ongoing power shortages amid a severe gas and energy crisis.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit told parliament on 7 September that five power plants with expired contracts will generate around 550MW without capacity charges. Another 660MW is expected to come from the Rampal Power Plant after one of its units resumes operations this week.
The government has allocated Tk6,000 crore to generate up to 4,000MW from HFO-fired power plants, Amit said.
To address the longer-term energy crisis, the government plans to drill 106 new gas wells, with work already underway on 30. An offshore oil and gas bidding round has also been launched.
The government expects to sign agreements by the end of this year to install at least two new floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). Preparations are also underway for a land-based LNG terminal at Matarbari.
Amit said higher global energy prices and the Middle East crisis had increased Bangladesh’s LNG import costs by Tk15,350 crore. He expressed optimism that the energy situation would improve next year and said Bangladesh aims to overcome the crisis by 2030.
Meanwhile, the government is promoting rooftop and land-based solar power to expand renewable energy. The second unit of the Eastern Refinery is also expected to raise the country’s annual crude oil refining capacity from 15 lakh tonnes to 45 lakh tonnes once operational.
The Islamic Development Bank has agreed to provide more than $1 billion to finance the refinery modernisation project.
Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman called for a special taskforce of political leaders and technical experts to address the energy crisis. He also urged greater transparency in major energy projects and demanded the withdrawal of meter rental and demand charges.
Amit said Tk29,000 crore would be needed to fully abolish meter rental fees, while the government plans to bring most consumers under smart prepaid meters by 2030.
