Opinion
Ensuring low-cost energy supply is a prerequisite for investment. During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, Bangladesh achieved unprecedented development in the energy sector. Quick rental, domestic production, and fuel imports were used to meet the needs of the industrial sector along with increasing household needs. The result is very clear – the country’s exports increased several times and the gross domestic product (GDP) increased from $102 billion to $450 billion.
Three important decisions were taken during Sheikh Hasina’s second term in office:
- Large-scale investment in energy infrastructure
- Ensuring diversity of energy sources and
- Expansion of energy transmission infrastructure
Sheikh Hasina has increased the “capacity” of 4,900 megawatts by almost 6 times by 2023, using mostly domestic energy. But today, questions are being raised about Bangladesh’s energy capacity. Producers are also concerned.
Due to lack of fuel, ordinary people have had to go back to the earthen stoves they abandoned 20 years ago. So has Sheikh Hasina magically been able to increase Bangladesh’s energy efficiency and security? Let’s analyze some data.
The information has been compiled from the internet by looking at reports from various organizations listed below. Any errors, confusions, and incompleteness are the author’s own. Apologies are invited for a positive review.
- Bangladesh Power Development Board Annual Report
- Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission
- Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
- World Bank, Asian Development Bank reports
- International Energy Agency
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
- Various World Bank reports
Energy security and supply
After coming to power for her second term, Sheikh Hasina focused on energy growth to meet domestic production needs. She increased the 2009 “production capacity” by 440% by December 2023. At the same time, she increased per capita electricity consumption by about 2.5 times.
Before 2009, more than half of the people (53%) across the country were outside the electricity transmission system. In 2023-24, Sheikh Hasina’s government provided universal electricity transmission to 100% of the people.
When the propaganda started from all sides about quick rental or “why import gas from India instead of using our own”, Sheikh Hasina tried to diversify the source of energy in an attempt to reduce the impact on the country’s gas. Due to which, the impact on oil and gas, which was close to 90% in 2008-2009, came down to 50% by 2023-24. And to bridge this gap, she built one mega project after another to generate electricity using coal-based, solar, and nuclear energy.
In coal-based generation, from a very negligible level in 2009, a total capacity of 1,320 MW was added in 2020, initially through the Payra Power Plant, starting at 660 MW.
The government started importing electricity to meet the country’s needs. After signing the agreement in 2017, although it was not possible to fully import it by December 16, 2022, 1600 megawatts of electricity started coming in the following year, 2023. Some electricity also comes from Nepal.
Keeping renewable energy in mind, initiatives were taken to increase the impact of solar power. Although the 2023 cash target was not achieved, about 3% of energy resources were provided. In addition, about 1000 million cubic feet of LNG was supplied daily.
I believe that the Sheikh Hasina government had three objectives behind this massive undertaking: 1) ensuring the availability of energy at affordable prices, 2) ensuring the reliability of energy sources, and 3) securing our mineral resources for future generations.
As we have seen a lot of progress from the above decisions, we can also see that after the terrorist attacks in July, Sheikh Hasina has tried to ensure the energy security of the people of Bangladesh by risking her life. On the one hand, distribution losses have decreased with the expansion of the national grid (from 14% to 8%), on the other hand, some groups have joined the regime change plan to buy energy from them at twice the price. Today, this energy security has become such a sensitive issue that dailies are afraid to print the truth about it.
Investing in new energy supplies
The Sheikh Hasina government’s investment in energy security can be analyzed in four sectors.
1) Power generation project
- Coal-fired power plants: A. Payra 1,320 MW, B. Rampal 1,320 MW, C. Matarbari 1,200 MW
- LNG-to-power: FSRU-based power plants (e.g. Summit LNG, Accelerate Energy): Quick rental of capacity using imported LNG. Floating storage has been used to supply fuel from this source.
- Large CCGT Power Plants: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plants (e.g. Bibiana – 3, Meghnaghat, Haripur): Capacity Development
- Cross-border electricity import: India-Bangladesh Interconnection: From India (Tripura-Bangladesh, Bheramara-Behrampur)
- Nuclear Power: Rooppur 2,400 MW: Ensuring Future Energy Security
2) Gas infrastructure
- LNG Terminal: a. FSRU-1 (Moheshkhali, 2018) – 500 million cubic feet/day capacity, b. FSRU-2 (Moheshkhali, 2020) – Doubles LNG import capacity
- Gas pipeline expansion: Construction of new pipelines for LNG transportation (e.g. Bhola-Dhaka, Payra-Dhaka)
3) Investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure development
- National Grid Strengthening: 400 kV and 230 kV lines upgraded; new substation commissioned
- Digital metering and prepaid system
- Distribution Network Expansion: Lines to the consumer have been extended through the expansion of the Rural Electrification Board.
4) Renewable energy investment
- Solar Park: Teknaf 5 MW, Mymensingh 73 MW, etc.
- Solar home system (temporary; later discontinued after grid expansion though)
- Solar power program on the roof of the organization (ongoing in industrial areas)
- Wind power project: First phase (60 MW) in Cox’s Bazar to be launched in 2023
What were the future plans?
In 2022, Bangladesh faced an energy crisis due to the increase in energy prices in the international market. Then came the dollar crisis. Even then, the government has tried to ensure energy security by keeping its plans in place. The national special economic zones (such as Mirsarai, Anwara) had their own power supply systems. Industrial enterprises were allowed to generate their own electricity. Although they still depend on the backup of the national grid.
To meet the financial costs in the energy sector, there was a system of capital investment by BPDB, EGCB, and Petrobangla. Private investment was encouraged using IPP and PPP methods. About 50% of domestic production came through private investment. Due to the government’s capacity, various foreign organizations and countries have come forward to provide financing. They include JICA, ADB, World Bank, China, and Russia.
How did Yunus destroy the energy sector?
After seizing power in the August 2024 terrorist attack, Yunus has used the energy sector to appease various groups. Every decision Yunus made in the energy sector has led Bangladesh into darkness. Some of the means are described below:
- LNG import at double the price
- Instead of canceling the electricity import agreement with India, diesel is being imported.
- False allegations of corruption in the construction and investment of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant
- Raw materials for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant mysteriously catch fire at airport
- Matarbari Power Plant Fire Damage
- Looting as much as 30,000 crore taka every day by creating an artificial energy crisis
- Fuel oil disappears from the transmission line
The result of this destructive process is load shedding, waste, depreciation, and limitless corruption. The country’s energy security is under threat today due to one anti-national decision after another. The well-planned energy sector of the country, built with Sheikh Hasina’s hard work, is today in danger of destruction. The anti-national forces of Yunus and July have once again pushed the country into the path of darkness.
https://stapravda.ru/20221228/reyting_samyh_populyarnyh_hostingov_v_rossii_196445.html, рейтинг хостингов России подтверждает, что выбор надежного провайдера важен для бизнеса.