Category: Energy and Power

Chevron Corp. has announced what it describes as an ‘organic’ capital expenditure range of $18 to $19 billion for consolidated subsidiaries (capex) for 2026, at the lowend of the long-term guidance range of $18 to $21 billion.

total US spend is anticipated to be about $10.5 billion, more than half of the 2026 capex budget. Upstream is expected to be approximately $17.0 billion. Nearly $6.0 billion is expected for US shale and tight assets that include Permian, DJ and Bakken, underpinning anticipated US production of more than two million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Global offshore capex is expected to be approximately $7.0 billion, primarily supporting growth in Guyana, Eastern Mediterranean and what the company describes as ‘the Gulf of America.’ Included in upstream spend is about $0.4 billion in capitalized interest, primarily related to Guyana assets.

Mobile courts had disconnected a large number of illegal gas lines during drives in the Madanpur area under Bandar recently, imposing fines and jail terms on offenders.

according to a press release, evidence of illegal gas use and unauthorised extension of commercial connections was found during the raids.

a total of 180 feet of illegal pipeline was removed, including 80 feet of 3/4-inch MS pipe and 100 feet of 3/4-inch hose pipe.

the drives also disconnected 13 star burners, one doubleburner stove, eight singleburner stoves, four modified burners and one booster, with a combined connected load of 600 cubic feet per hour. Mobile courts collected Tk 1,10,000 in fines.

Energypac Power Generation PLC, one of the country’s leading power engineering companies, recently organized an insightful and forward-looking seminar, ‘AI for Business Excellence’, in collaboration with NetCom Learning Global Ltd, focusing on the prospects and practice of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business excellence. The seminar was designed to highlight intelligent technologies that enhance operational efficiency for business, support quick decision-making, and expedite long-term business growth. Fahmidul Alam, an expert in business development and technology integration, discussed AI basics and practical applications to the attendees. He also talked about upcoming trends, opportunities, and real-world business case studies during the whole seminar.

The Trump administration is vying to roll back Bidenera limits on one of the most widespread deadly air pollutants, asking a court to vacate the standard. The Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 had strengthened limits on fine particulate matter, including soot, which can lead to health problems including strokes, heart attacks and asthma attacks. But recently the EPA, now under Trump leadership, filed a motion moving to drop defense of the rule in a DC appeals court, saying that Joe Biden’s White House had failed to follow necessary procedures to institute it. The EPA under former president Biden had said the stronger standard would ‘undoubtedly save lives.’ Exposure to the particles disproportionately impacts US communities of color.

industry petitioners and a coalition of states sued Biden’s EPA over the matter, saying the new standards would burden manufacturers and that compliance was too expensive.

Four members of a family suffered burn injuries in a fire apparently from gas leak in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj district on December 06.

the injured were identified as jarina Begu, 65, Alauddin, 35, Sathia Akter, 14 and Saima, 4. Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, resident Surgeon at the hospital, said the fire broke out at the house of Jarina early in the morning likely from accumulated gas due to gas line leakage at Kanchpur Patatata village, leaving four members of the family injured.

they were taken to National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Prof Emeritus at BRAC University Dr.

ainun Nishat recently said effective climate action requires full implementation of the National Adaptation Plan, alongside stronger capacity building and technology transfer. ‘Integrating climate considerations across all ministries is essential to addressing this growing threat,’ he said at a workshop in Dhaka.

the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), convened the high-level workshop to gather perspectives from private sector representatives along with representatives from financial regulators, relevant government agencies, and development partners in relation to private finance for climate action. The initiative comes at a decisive moment for climatevulnerable nations.

at COP30, world leaders warned that adaptation financing remains dangerously insufficient; despite escalating risks from sea-level rise, extreme heat, and climaterelated disasters. Bangladesh, though responsible for under 0.56% of global emissions, ranks 9th among the world’s most climate-exposed countries, facing annual financing needs estimated at USD 26 billion.

India does not have any immediate plans to add coal power generation capacity beyond 2035, a top power ministry official said recently. ‘India wants to secure its energy requirements,’ Pankaj Agarwal, secretary at the power ministry said on the sidelines of a power ministry event. ‘As on 2035, we want to have a coal capacity of 307 gigawatts.’ He said it would be ‘premature to say what we want to do beyond 2035’.

india this year proposed increasing its coal power capacity by 46% from the current 210 GW while doubling its non-fossil fuel capacity of 500 GW by 2030.

agarwal said the coal power plans are in line with the country’s energy requirements.

The government has increased the prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane by Tk2 per liter, even as global oil prices continue to fall.

the Energy and Mineral Resources Division issued a notification on 30 November, announcing the revised rates. Under the new pricing, effective from 1 December, diesel will retail at Tk104 per liter, kerosene at Tk116, octane at Tk124, and petrol at Tk120. Previously, on 31 May, the energy and mineral resources division last announced fuel prices, fixing diesel at Tk102 a liter, kerosene at Tk114, octane at Tk122 and petrol at Tk118. The government then kept fuel prices unchanged for five consecutive months.

the price hike comes just ahead of the boro season, raising farmers’ production costs.

Frustrated by prolonged gas shortages and ‘Titas Gas’s failure’ to provide any meaningful assurance, residents of Jatrabari recently staged protests, disrupting traffic on a key national highway. Residents of Shekdi area blocked parts of Dhaka-Chattogram Highway including Shanir Akhra, Kajla, and Jatrabari, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill.

the protest ended peacefully for the day but demonstrators warned they would resume their agitation on Wednesday if their demands are not met within 24 hours. Some residents of Shekdi area said they have been facing severe hardship due to a prolonged gas crisis and cooking has become nearly impossible, forcing many to rely on expensive alternatives

Bangladesh requires a p p r o x i m a t e l y $146.81 billion as total climate finance until 2050, while the total adaptation finance needs will be $86.04 billion. On the other hand, $60.77 billion will be required to address the total mitigation needs (2021-2030), says a new report explaining Bangladesh’s climate finance requirements.

the report titled, ‘Climate Finance Synthesis Report: Needs, Flows and Gaps in the HKH countries’, was released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region faces escalating climate risks, including glacial melt, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events, posing severe threats to ecosystems, livelihoods, and the well-being of billions dependent on its resources. Bangladesh has a substantial 59% funding gap, despite a high level of commitment, underscoring the significant need for increased disbursement rates, said the report.