Energy policy of Bangladesh
Bangladesh suffers with heavy energy crisis with the gradual expansion of economic activities of the country. The estimations and reserves of energy resources show future potentials but a small fraction of them are being utilized which proved to be insufficient. Moreover, the impact of climate change and environment pollution has also been significantly felt. As a result, the successive governments have aimed at formulating an effective energy policy which would address these concerns. The energy policies have also received extensive criticisms especially on the questions of energy export and methods of extraction.
The first National Energy Policy (NEP) of Bangladesh was formulated in 1996 by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources to ensure proper exploration, production, distribution and rational use of energy resources to meet the growing energy demands of different zones, consuming sectors and consumers groups on a sustainable basis. With rapid change of global as well as domestic situation, the policy was updated in 2004. The updated policy included additional objectives namely to ensure environmentally sound sustainable energy development programmes causing minimum damage to environment, to encourage public and private sector participation in the development and management of energy sector and to bring the entire country under electrification by the year 2020.
On 4 October 2022 70-80% of the countries 168 million residence were hit with blackouts and only 45% of residences were restored with power by nightfall. There was a shortage of natural gas because of the
History
The first National Energy Policy (NEP) of Bangladesh was formulated in 1996 by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources to ensure proper exploration, production, distribution and rational use of energy resources to meet the growing energy demands of different zones, consuming sectors and consumers groups on a sustainable basis.[5] With rapid change of global as well as domestic situation, the policy was updated in 2004. The updated policy included additional objectives namely to ensure environmentally sound sustainable energy development programmes causing minimum damage to environment, to encourage public and private sector participation in the development and management of energy sector and to bring the entire country under electrification by the year 2020.[6]
Energy resources
Natural gas
In recent years, experts have raised concerns that the existing proven reserves could be extirpated by 2020 and have called for immediate exploration of new gas fields.[8]
Coal
Bangladesh has a reserve of approximately 3 billion tons of steam grade Bituminous coal as discovered till 2003. These reserves are mainly concentrated into the five large coal fields in the northwestern regions of the country, namely Jamalganj, Barapukuria, Khalashpir, Dighipara and Phulbari.[9]
Energy conservation
The NEP called for conservation measures to be strictly enforced to ensure rational, economic and efficient use of energy. The major means of energy conservation have been pointed out as energy audit, reduction of wastage, demand management and efficient use. Experts have suggested to initiate the energy conservation act, which would significantly reduce the energy demand of the country.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "Bangladesh - Power and Energy". International Trade Administration.
- ^ Paul, Ruma; Varadhan, Sudarshan (4 October 2022). "Bangladesh plunged into darkness by national grid failure". Reuters.
- ^ "Bangladesh Plans Staggered Factory Holidays to Ease Power Crunch". Bloomberg. 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Global LNG outlooks point to rough waters ahead for Bangladesh". Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
- ISBN 9780749440633.
- ISBN 9780815704317.
- ISBN 9781411329645.
- ^ "Energy: Hope and reality". Dhaka Tribune. 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Coal and Bangladesh's energy scenario". The Independent. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.
- ^ "Energy conservation law a must for an efficient sector: Experts". The Daily Star. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.