|
Report |
| Germany is launching a new program for sustainable energy development through German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), The program called “Sustainable Energy for Development,” begins from March 1. The reliable and efficient provision of modern energy services is a key to reducing poverty. Given the country’s deep energy crisis, the governments of Bangladesh and Germany agreed that both accelerated use of renewable energy and improvement of energy efficiency have to be an integral part of the solution of the energy situation. In cooperation with the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, GTZ will support the sustainable use of energy and thus contribute to Bangladesh’s National Poverty Reduction Strategy “Unlocking the Potential,” released in October 2005. One component of the new program will promote the decentralized supply of energy to households and small and medium-sized businesses in the rural areas, employing renewable energy technologies such as solar lighting systems, improved cook stoves, biogas systems, solar driers for hygienic drying of fish and agricultural products. The second component will initiate measures to promote energy saving and increase the efficient use of energy through energy efficient production processes and appliances in industry and households. To realize the objectives of the program, it will be necessary to support pertinent government institutions in design, implementation and monitoring of strategies for sustainable energy development, drafting of energy conservation legislation and introduction of energy efficiency standards. Furthermore, private sector companies (e.g. energy supply companies), civil society organizations and business associations need to be involved in promotion and implementation of sustainable energy development measures. GTZ and MPEMR are confident that in the coming years rural families as well as industries will benefit from the impacts of the technical cooperation program. In rural areas, the introduction of more efficient and less harmful technologies such as improved cook stoves, solar lighting systems, and biogas both for cooking and electricity generation will contribute to improved living conditions – rural women will use half of the usual biomass fuel in smoke-free kitchens, electric lighting will facilitate income generating activities, will improve access to information and will allow children to study after sunset. In industry, more efficient use of energy will contribute to reduction of production costs, thus releasing valuable energy for other users. Immediate Steps for Large Power Projects Stressed Speakers at a roundtable urged the government to float tenders for five or six large power projects immediately and pursue short-term strategies to improve the power situation to save the country from an impending power debacle. They emphasized faster and professional decision making process and full activation of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC). Participants at the roundtable on "state of power sector and way forward," organized by the Daily Star at its office, included former ministers, bureaucrats and experts. Editor of the daily Mahfuz Anam moderated it. The roundtable blamed the immediate past alliance government for destroying the sector through corruption and mismanagement, and demanded the government bring the persons responsible to justice. The caretaker government (CG) should consider immediate purchase of power from private captive plants, import from neighboring countries, rationing of energy during the coming dry season and even consider day-light saving plan to meet the power shortage immediately. The CG should also consider shuffling the manpower in the power ministry and Power Development Board (PDB) since these are still being controlled by the same people who had served the alliance government and failed to deliver. Professionals who were side-tracked during the coalition rule should be given appropriate posts to utilize their services. Former Energy Minister Lt Gen (retd) Nooruddin Khan suggested installation of independent power plants with 10-30 megawatt capacity by Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO). He also recommended that the government should reinitiate the nuclear power project, tap alternative sources of energy and install more coal- based power plants instead of gas-based ones. Former State Minister for Power Major General (retd) Anwarul Kabir Talukder blamed the immediate past government for lack of leadership at both political and technical levels, and said the ultimate responsibility for failures in this sector goes to the political leadership. Talukder underscored bringing to book all those who misappropriated huge amounts of money leading the sector to destruction. Tawfique-e-Elahi Choudhury, former Secretary of the Energy Ministry, demanded publication of a white paper on corruption in power sector. He recommended immediate signing of some big power plant contracts with due diligence. The authorities should inform general people about the crisis of power and seek their cooperation in averting possible Kansat-like situation in future, he said. Former PDB Chairman Nooruddin M Kamal urged the government to set up all fresh power plants in western region of the country as most of the existing ones are located in eastern zone. He also suggested separating the national grid in eastern and western zones. Immediate past PDB Chairman ANM Rizwan said the government should set the tariff structure of the PDB so as to make it cost effective and commercially viable. Otherwise, existence of the PDB will be threatened. Summit Group Chairman Aziz Khan urged the government to consider raising bank financing provision to 50 percent from 15 percent now. Courtesy: Daily Star |
|
Copyright © Energy & Power 2003 • Editor: Mollah Amzad Hossain • Eastern Trade Center • Room 509 • 56, Inner Circular Road • Dhaka 1000 • Tel: +880-2-835 4532 |