Category: Energy and Power

The government has asked the Finance Division to divert Tk10 billion from the development budget to accelerate rooftop solar installations as part of efforts to tackle the ongoing power crisis.

The proposed fund would be taken from a Tk20 billion allocation for state-run organizations involved in microcredit and poverty alleviation.

The Finance Division is expected to fi nalize the fund’s use for solar power generation at a meeting next week.

The move follows a Finance Division proposal outlining short-, medium- and long-term measures to address the energy crisis.

Offi cials believe stronger fi nancial and policy support for public and private solar projects could signifi cantly increase renewable generation before next summer and help reduce power shortages.

Bangladesh Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for stronger regional cooperation in South Asia to combat the growing threat of transnational and organised wildlife crime.

Speaking at the fi rst General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) in Kathmandu on September 10, the minister stressed the need to strengthen regional intelligence sharing, coordinated law enforcement and joint operations.

He said wildlife and ecosystems do not recognise political borders, while criminal networks are increasingly using borders, transport routes, trade channels, online platforms and fi nancial systems to conduct wildlife traffi cking.

The minister called for law enforcement agencies to go beyond wildlife seizures and arrests and identify the organisers, fi nanciers and wider criminal networks behind such crimes.

He also urged authorities to use every seizure as an opportunity to gather intelligence on the source, routes, people involved, fi nancing and intended destinations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered law enforcement agencies to take tougher action against excessive use of polythene and plastic to curb environmental pollution.

He also directed relevant ministries, divisions and agencies to properly implement their responsibilities while making ongoing pollutioncontrol programmes more effective.

The directives came at a recent review meeting at the Secretariat on measures to control air, water, soil and noise pollution, improve waste management and strengthen future environmental initiatives.

The meeting also emphasised expanding the use of environmentfriendly block bricks as an alternative to conventional fi red bricks.

bp and Shell have agreed terms for Shell to acquire a 50% stake in the Tupinambá exploration block in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil, in addition to a 30% stake in fi ve leases containing the Conifer exploration prospect in the deepwater Gulf of America Paleogene.

The transactions support bp’s disciplined approach to capital allocation in service of becoming a simpler, stronger, more valuable company.

bp will retain the remaining 50% interest in Tupinambá and 70% in Conifer and continue as operator in both.

Gordon Birrell, EVP Upstream, said: ‘Brazil and the Gulf of America are important regions for bp, and bringing together two experienced operators can help unlock the potential of both opportunities.

This collaboration will help strengthen our position in both as we progress exploration activity.’ Completion of Tupinambá remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Extensive tree plantation is vital for protecting the environment and biodiversity, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said on September 4.

He made the remarks while attending a tree plantation programme as the chief guest at Hasura Mouza in Niamatpur upazila of Naogaon district.

Under a large-scale afforestation programme, around 20,000 saplings of 15 species have been planted along a 20-kilometer strip plantation in the area.

The plantation has been carried out on both sides of canals stretching from Crossdam to land owned by Rajjak Chairman in Beltri Mouza and from land owned by Shiberswar to land owned by Palash through Hasura Mouza.

The state minister said planned afforestation should be expanded to increase the country’s green cover and maintain environmental balance.

bp and Shell have agreed terms for Shell to acquire a 50% stake in the Tupinambá exploration block in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil, in addition to a 30% stake in fi ve leases containing the Conifer exploration prospect in the deepwater Gulf of America Paleogene.

The transactions support bp’s disciplined approach to capital allocation in service of becoming a simpler, stronger, more valuable company.

bp will retain the remaining 50% interest in Tupinambá and 70% in Conifer and continue as operator in both.

Gordon Birrell, EVP Upstream, said: ‘Brazil and the Gulf of America are important regions for bp, and bringing together two experienced operators can help unlock the potential of both opportunities.

This collaboration will help strengthen our position in both as we progress exploration activity.’ Completion of Tupinambá remains subject to regulatory approvals.

The government has released Tk6,000 crore to boost electricity generation from oil-fi red power plants and clear outstanding dues to private power producers, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said.

The funds will be released in two instalments and mainly used to settle payments to private power producers, enabling them to purchase fuel and operate their plants more effi ciently.

The government plans to increase oil-fi red power generation by at least 5,000MW to reduce loadshedding and ease pressure on gas-fi red plants.

Offi cials estimate that returning oilfi red plants to full operation could add around 2,500MW to the national grid.

The initiative is also aimed at freeing up gas for industrial consumers by shifting more power generation to fuel oil.

Oilfi red generation currently costs around Tk120 crore a day, and fuel oil purchases will be increased to support higher output.

Bangladeshi company Ecolet (Pvt.) Ltd will invest US$15.91 million to establish an LED products manufacturing plant at the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsharai, Chattogram.

The company will produce around 6 million LED bulbs, lamps and decorative lights annually for export to the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Middle Eastern markets.

The project is expected to create jobs for 306 Bangladeshi nationals.

An agreement was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Ecolet on August 27 in Dhaka.

Md Tanvir Hossain, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA, and Ecolet Managing Director Mohammad Soliman signed the agreement.

BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain said the investment would support the authority’s efforts to diversify Bangladesh’s export basket by promoting technology-oriented electrical and electronics manufacturing alongside traditional export sectors.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has apologized to people and industries suffering from the country’s ongoing electricity and fuel shortages, acknowledging the energy crisis as the government’s biggest immediate challenge.

‘We apologies on behalf of the party to all those, including ordinary people and factory owners, who are suffering from electricity and fuel shortages,’ he said recently, while addressing a discussion marking the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka.

Tarique said his government had inherited a fragile economy and weaknesses in several sectors, including energy.

He acknowledged that many people were facing diffi culties but said the government was not using the inherited problems merely as an excuse.

He said the government had already adopted an action plan to address the energy crisis, although its implementation would take time.

The plan is also being designed to protect Bangladesh from similar energy disruptions arising from future global crises.

Additional Secretary Dr Rafi qul Islam has been appointed Chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), replacing the vacant position that remained unfi lled for nearly two months.

An order appointing Dr Rafi qul Islam as BPC Chairman was issued on September 6.

Before the appointment, Dr Rafi qul Islam served as a member of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council.

The position became vacant after BPC Chairman Engineer Rezanur Rahman was removed from his post nearly two months ago.