Category: Energy and Power

A Qatari liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) carrier was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz recently, e sscalating concerns over maritime security despite a recent U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at reducing attacks in the strategic waterway.

The LNG vessel, owned by Qatar’s state-run shipping company Nakilat, was reportedly hit while exiting the Strait, forcing its crew to abandon the ship.

A Saudi crude oil tanker also sustained damage in a separate incident, while a third attack was reported by a UK maritime security agency.

The incidents prompted a rise in global energy prices, with crude oil gaining up to 3% and European natural gas futures climbing as much as 6%.

Shipping companies are reassessing transit risks through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and LNG exports.

The attacks underscore continuing uncertainty over maritime security in the Gulf, even as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilize the region and restore normal shipping operations.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has surpassed 20,000 megawatts of renewable power generation capacity.

The company, which has achieved this milestone in India’s energy sector, reached this capacity within just a decade of commissioning its fi rst project.

Powering over 9 million households, the company currently generates more than 52 billion units of electricity annually, which is nearly 3 percent of India’s total electricity consumption.

This amount of electricity could meet the demand of New York City for an entire year, or almost fully cover the combined electricity demand of Mumbai and New Delhi.

According to data as of May 31 this year, this generation capacity represents about 14 percent of India’s utility-scale solar installations and around 12 percent of the combined capacity of solar and wind power.

AGEL’s current generation capacity includes approximately 14,200 megawatts of solar power, 2,700 megawatts of wind power, and 3,300 megawatts of hybrid power.

In the 2025-26 fi scal year alone, the company added 5,051 megawatts of new capacity, the highest single-year addition by any company outside China.

The ‘COP31 Business Forum Turkish Business Community Consultation Meeting’ was held in Ankara recently, chaired by COP31 President-Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, alongside the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Trkiye (TOBB), M.

Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

Highlighting landmark projects such as the domestic automobile and the Zero Waste Movement at the forum- organized by TOBB, which has been designated the ‘COP31 Private Sector Envoy’-Minister Kurum called for deep cooperation from sector representatives throughout the COP31 cycle.

‘Let us broadcast this vision to the entire world and collectively revitalize Trkiye’s success stories,’ Kurum urged.

‘In the run-up to COP31, let us work together to outline the green transition commitments, best practice models, and the necessary fi nancial and policy instruments required by the Turkish private sector-the crown jewel of our economy.

In the run-up to COP31, let us deliver a collaborative framework that makes the tangible contributions of our private sector visible, establishes Trkiye as a global brand in this fi eld through its participation, workflows, and overarching vision, and reflects the stance, attitude, and vision of our business community.’ Emphasizing that the ministry will work hand-in-hand with the business community throughout the COP31 process, Minister Kurum stated: ‘Today, we are elevating our strong cooperation to an entirely new level as we roll up our sleeves to leave the private sector’s stamp on COP31.

Throughout this process, TOBB will drive broad participation by defi ning the priorities of our business community and establishing a robust national stakeholder base.’ Minister Kurum outlined Trkiye’s COP31 vision to business leaders, which is built on the paradigm of the ‘COP of the Future: COP of Implementation.’ Addressing the green transition in the industrial sector, Minister Kurum stated: ‘In today’s world, global trade rules that have been shaped since the Industrial Revolution are being rewritten around the axis of the ‘Green Transition.’ The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is becoming a prerequisite for our exports, market share, and global competitiveness.

Stressing that the COP31 process represents a major opportunity for all stakeholders, Minister Kurum said: ‘COP31 must not be viewed merely as a bureaucratic exercise run by governments.

Instead, you must see it as a climate and development mobilization with our business community leading the charge.’ Minister Kurum concluded his address with a call to the business delegates: ‘Let us broadcast this vision to the entire world and collectively revitalize Trkiye’s success stories.

In the run-up to COP31, let us work together to outline the green transition commitments, best practice models, and the necessary fi nancial and policy instruments required by the Turkish private sector- the crown jewel of our economy.’ In his opening remarks, TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu noted that under Minister Kurum’s directive, TOBB has been tasked as the ‘COP31 Private Sector Envoy’ to coordinate the global business community.

Underscoring that Trkiye aims to lead the way in the green transition, Hisarciklioglu said: ‘The climate struggle is no longer purely an environmental issue; it is the industrial and competitive arena of the 21st century.

Whoever dictates the factories, supply chains, and technology standards of the green transition will command the industrial hierarchy of this century.

Speaking at the forum, the Director of Climate Change, Prof.

Halil Hasar, addressed technical inquiries from delegates regarding verifi cation and reporting frameworks.

The forum was widely attended by business executives, representatives of non-governmental organization, presidents of various chambers and commodity exchanges, and numerous invited guests

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a major initiative to expand rooftop solar power generation across Bangladesh’s public universities, aiming to reduce electricity costs and promote clean energy through private sector investment.

According to a UGC press release, the initiative was discussed at a review meeting on rooftop solar power installations held at the Commission recently.

Under the fi rst phase of the program, around 60 MW of rooftop solar capacity is planned for 31 public universities through an Operational Expenditure (OPEX) model, under which private investors will fi nance, install, operate and maintain the solar systems.

UGC said feasibility studies have already been completed at 47 public universities and one international university

Bangladesh has signifi cantly increased its purchases of expensive spot liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) after three key suppliers suspended contracted deliveries by invoking force majeure amid the recent Middle East conflict.

According to energy sector sources, QatarEnergy, OQ Trading International of Oman and Excelerate Energy of the United States have temporarily halted LNG shipments under fi ve sales and purchase agreements (SPAs), citing disruptions linked to the Iran-Israel conflict and the Strait of Hormuz.

The suppliers have reportedly extended their force majeure notices through mid-July, forcing state-owned Petrobangla to rely heavily on the volatile spot market to maintain domestic gas supplies.

Offi cials said Bangladesh has purchased 33 spot LNG cargoes so far in 2026, including 31 cargoes after the Middle East conflict began, with a record seven spot cargoes imported in each of April, May, June and July

The government is moving towards a new urban planning policy that will ensure Bangladesh’s cities are designed to coexist with rain, water and the realities of climate change, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition ‘Dialogues in Coexistence: Shaping Inclusive Public Spaces in the Bengal Delta’ at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhaka, Saki said future urban development would focus on making public spaces, architecture and city planning more responsive to Bangladesh’s geographical and environmental conditions.

‘Cities must be designed to coexist with rain, water and climate realities, instead of treating them as disruptions,’ he said.

The minister said the government is giving priority to preparing comprehensive master plans for Dhaka and all divisional cities, with similar planning initiatives to be gradually extended to district and upazila towns

Power and energy minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood recently said the government was prioritizing private investment to achieve its target of generating 10,000 megawatts of solar electricity by 2030.

He said that they were also accelerating new gas exploration onshore and offshore to address the country’s long-standing gas shortage.

Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the fi nancial year 2026-27 at the budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, the minister said that the international bidding process for new exploration blocks was expected to be completed by November this year.

Iqbal Hasan said that the government had introduced tax exemptions and customs duty waivers on solar equipment and batteries, along with tax holidays until 2031, to attract both domestic and foreign investments in the renewable energy sector.

He said that alongside solar power, investments would also be encouraged in wind energy and waste-to-energy projects

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Tanaka Akihiko has reaffi rmed Japan’s longterm commitment to Bangladesh, describing the MoheshkhaliMatarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative as a key project for strengthening the country’s energy security and trade connectivity.

During his fi ve-day visit to Bangladesh, Tanaka inspected the Matarbari power plant and deep-sea port, saying the project would play a vital role in supporting Bangladesh’s economic growth while advancing Japan’s ‘Updated Free and Open Indo-Pacifi c’ vision.

He also met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and senior government ministers to discuss progress on major Japanese-backed infrastructure projects, including the Dhaka Metro Rail, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal, the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, and regional energy cooperation under the POWERR Asia initiative.

Global natural gas demand is projected to decline by 0.5% in 2026 as tighter supplies and higher prices curb consumption across major markets, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest Gas Market Report.

The IEA said global gas consumption is on track to contract for the third time in seven years, driven by weaker demand from the power and industrial sectors.

The downturn follows disruptions to LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that previously handled about 20% of global LNG trade.

Although LNG tanker traffi c has gradually resumed following a temporary ceasefi re between the United States and Iran, volumes remain below pre-conflict levels, while gas prices in Asia and Europe continue to stay well above 2025 averages.

The report notes that LNG production from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates fell by nearly 80% during MarchJune compared with the same period last year

Load-shedding has reached alarming levels across Gazipur city and other parts of the district amid the ongoing intense heat.

Frequent power cuts, often lasting for hours during both the day and night, have disrupted daily life and caused severe hardship for residents.

Repeated outages are also hampering industrial production, inflicting signifi cant losses on factories and businesses.

Areas including Tongi, Gazipur Sadar, Joydebpur, Chandana Chowrasta, Board Bazar, Konabari, Kashimpur, Gacha, and Pubail are experiencing power cuts everyone to one and a half hours.

In some places, electricity remains unavailable for one hour, while in others, outages last up to two hours.

Residents of Kapasia, Sreepur, Kaliganj, and Kaliakair have complained that electricity remains unavailable for as long as 10 to 12 hours a day.

According to locals, power outages occur four to fi ve times daily, severely affecting industrial activities.