Energy experts at an energy talk in the capital on 23 August urged Bangladesh to phase out fossil fuels and ensure a just transition to renewable energy.
A group of nine green platforms organized the energy talk at the Liberation War Museum. “Renewable energy is cheaper and makes sense to be used for development for its sustainability,” said Khondaker Golam Moazzem,research director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, a non-government think-tank.
Over the years, Bangladesh pursued a flawed economic forecast and energy policy, ending up in overwhelming reliance on fossil fuel use, he said.
The result proved to be devastating, with a massive amount of money spent on paying capacity charges to idle power plants, requiring the payment of huge energy subsidies, he said.
Excessive expenditures, however, failed to reduce the country’s energy crisis, with frequent power outages occurring, affecting life and business, the energy expert said.
The energy talk was attended by over 200 students.