Category: Energy and Power

The government has withdrawn the rationing system for fuel sales, allowing ?lling stations across the country to resume normal operations. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit announced the decision at a press conference at the Secretariat recently. However, he warned that strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to stockpile fuel taking advantage of the situation. The state minister said the government had earlier taken several measures, including introducing rationing in fuel distribution, to address supply disruptions caused by the Middle East con?ict. ‘Several imported oil-carrying vessels have already reached Chattogram Port,’ he said.

Syntax Mart, a sister concern of Syntax Group, has achieved the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, scoring an impressive 90 points. LEED is a green building certi?cation program used worldwide.

the certi?cation recognizes the company’s commitment to sustainable development, ef?cient use of electricity, gas and water, and the creation of environmentally friendly working conditions. The certi?cate was formally presented at a ceremony held at Syntax Group’s corporate of?ce. Reaz-ul Islam Sharear, managing director of Syntax Group, received the certi?cate on behalf of the organization. Speaking at the event, he said the achievement goes beyond a certi?cation and strengthens the company’s sustainability vision

Bangladesh is seeking long-term partnerships to diversify its energyimport sources and plans to establish a landbased lique?ed natural gas (LNG) terminal to strengthen supply security, as geopolitical tensions threaten key global shipping routes.

energy, Power and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku said disruptions in LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have exposed vulnerabilities in Bangladesh’s energy supply chain, prompting the government to accelerate efforts to secure alternative sources and attract fresh investment in the sector. ‘We are seeking long-term partnerships for diversi?ed sources to ensure a stable energy supply arrangement,’ he was quoted as saying at the inaugural Indo-Paci?c Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo on Sunday. ‘A large share of Bangladesh’s lique?ed natural gas (LNG) imports passes through the Strait of Hormuz,’ the minister said, adding that current disruptions along this route pose a major threat to Bangladesh’s energy security

Paramount Textile, a listed company, is set to install a 9.81-megawatt rooftop solar power plant at its factory premises to ensure sustainable business operations.

the decision was taken at a meeting of the board of directors recently as part of efforts to support manufacturing with renewable energy amid global fuel supply disruptions triggered by the escalating Iran-Israel war.

the company will sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Paramount Solar for the development of the solar facility at the company’s factory premises at Sreepur in Gazipur, according to a stock exchange ?ling on Monday. Paramount Textile holds a 99.99 percent stake in Paramount Solar.

the board of Paramount Textile unanimously approved the proposal to sign the deal for the development, operation and management of the rooftop solar power project, the disclosure reads.

the project will be implemented under the OPEX (operational expenditure) model, under which the solar developer will design, ?nance, construct, operate and maintain the plant.

India’s cumulative installed battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity is projected to reach 346 GWh by 2033 from less than 1 GWh today, according to a white paper by the Indian Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and Customized Energy Solutions (CES).

india’s stationary energy storage market is expanding rapidly, with 69 new BESS tenders totaling 102 GWh launched over the past year – a 35% increase over 2024 and nearly double the annual tender volume – according to a white paper released at the recent Stationary Energy Storage India (SESI) 2026 conference. Cumulative installed capacity currently stands at less than 1 GWh, with 92 GWh of projects now in the pipeline. The report, prepared by IESA in partnership with CES, projects installed stationary storage capacity will reach 346 GWh by 2033 under a base scenario, rising to 544 GWh if policy momentum continues. Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) capacity is projected to grow from 7 GW in 2025 to 107 GW by 20

The International Energy Agency said recently its member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves – the biggest such release ever – to ease the impact of the Middle East war. ‘The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size,’ IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement. The IEA says the emergency stocks will be made available to the market over a ‘timeframe that is appropriate to the national circumstances’ of each member country.

it is the sixth time the IEA has approved a coordinated release of oil stocks, having previously done so in 1991, 2005, 2011, and twice in 2022, it say

ADNOC Gas, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, said recently it had made ‘temporary operational adjustments’ to production due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, while continuing operations despite Iranian strikes across the Gulf. ‘Operations are continuing safely across ADNOC Gas plc’s asset base. Following debris falling near certain facilities, inspections con?rmed no injuries and no impact to core processing integrity,’ the company said in a disclosure to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

the ?rm said it had ‘made temporary operational adjustments to production of Lique?ed Natural Gas and Export Traded Liquids’, in response to ongoing shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Tehran. ‘The Company is actively collaborating with customers and partners on a transaction-by-transaction basis to ful?ll commitments wherever possible,’ it added

Fuel prices in India increased recently, with premium petrol and industrial diesel becoming more expensive due to ongoing con?icts in the Middle East. According to oil marketing companies, the price of premium petrol went up by about 2.30 Indian rupees per liter, while industrial diesel saw a much bigger jump of around 22 rupees per liter. The rise in fuel costs is linked to instability in the Middle East, which has been affecting global oil markets and supply. Higher industrial diesel prices are expected to impact key sectors such as manufacturing, transport and power generation. This could lead to higher production and delivery costs, and eventually push up the prices of everyday goods, local media reported. However, the government downplayed the increase in premium petrol prices, saying it would have limited impact as only a small portion – around 2 to 4 percent – of consumers use this type of fuel

QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on some of its affected long-term liqui?ed natural gas (LNG) supply contracts, with counterparties including customers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China.

the move comes amid production disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has affected Qatar. Global energy markets have been reeling since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran in late February.

iranian missile and drone strikes across the Middle East, including most notably in the Gulf region, have targeted oil and gas facilities, prompting international condemnation.

the essential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical Gulf waterway through which about one-?fth of the world’s energy supplies transit, has also spurred mounting concern as energy prices have soared.

Ke eping fuel prices unchanged despite mounting losses is becoming increasingly dif?cult to justify. The government is reportedly losing around Tk 167 crore per day from fuel sales, reversing what had once been a pro?table position. With more than 35 years of experience ?nancing power and energy sector entities at home and abroad, this kind of prolonged loss is unlikely to be sustainable. Without timely price adjustments, the burden on the broader economy will only grow heavier. Mamun Rashid, chairman of Financial Excellence Limited, shared this view in an interview with Energy and Power Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain. He suggested that while some limited subsidy on diesel may still be necessary, the higher costs of petrol and octane should be passed on to consumers to ease the ?scal pressure. Bangladesh’s dependence on imported power and energy has reached 56% and continues to rise. Last year, the country spent around $20 billion on energy imports and related debt servicing.

this year, it was expected to rise to $24 billion, but the Middle East war has disrupted everything. How severe could the crisis become for Bangladesh, and what should be done to keep it manageable? Due to high import dependence, Bangladesh is under signi?cant pressure. Because of the war, energy import costs could increase by $4-5 billion or more.

under these circumstances, there is no room to keep domestic fuel prices unchanged. While diesel prices may not be fully adjusted due to reasons acceptable, there is no alternative but to adjust prices for petrol, octane, and other fuels.

another major challenge is ensuring a suf?cient supply of fuel and LNG. Bangladesh imports about 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil annually, mainly from Saudi Arabia and partly from the UAE, but those supplies are now disrupted.

alternative sources must be explored to keep the Eastern Re?nery operational, though constrained by limited capacity. However, more than 70% of re?ned fuel, especially diesel, is imported from the Far East and Asian countries.

efforts should be made to increase supply from these sources.

about 75% of Bangladesh’s LNG imports depend on Qatar, which is now largely disrupted.

therefore, alongside the spot market, Bangladesh should initiate longterm LNG purchase negotiations with the United States and may be few others.

in the long run, the responsibility for fuel import and distribution should gradually be handed over to the private sector, allowing them to ensure supply based on global market prices. Most importantly, to reduce import dependence, foreign investment in oil and gas exploration should also be accelerated. Political decisions should also be taken immediately to explore, extract, and utilize domestic coal. Following the US-Israel attack on Iran and the spread of war in the Middle East, Bangladesh experienced fuel shortages within the ?rst week.

the government introduced rationing but later withdrew it. Despite various measures, the crisis persists, with people waiting hours in queues at fuel stations. Diesel shortages are affecting irrigation and transport.

the government claims there is no fuel crisis-why are people not convinced? After the war began, public panic about fuel shortages spread quickly. Media reports on limited reserves also contributed to this, and the government’s rationing decision further intensi?ed the situation.

that was a mistake, and it is good that it was withdrawn.

additionally, key positions in fuel import and distribution organizations were ?lled by individuals appointed during the interim government.

they may be honest, but their ef?ciency was questionable.

the current political leadership is mostly relying on them to manage supply and distribution, which may fail to ensure effective results.

although the government claims there is no shortage, people are not convinced because the system(including communication) has failed to demonstrate that effectively.

as a result, queues at fuel stations continue to grow longer.

one month into the war, around 40 energy facilities in nine Middle Eastern countries have been damaged.

the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and now the Houthis have joined the con?ict, raising concerns about disruptions at Bab ElMandeb.

this could disrupt up to 32% of global energy transportation. What is your view? It is uncertain when the war will end, how long its effects will last, or how quickly damaged energy infrastructure can return to full operation. But our energy needs will remain, if not further increase.

therefore, there is no alternative to ?nding new sources. Bangladesh should start negotiations with countries like the United States, Australia, Vietnam, and Indonesia for LNG.

at the same time, Bangladesh already imports re?ned fuel from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and India (also some from the Philippines in the past).

efforts should be made to increase supply from these countries. Discussions could also be initiated with China. For crude oil, Bangladesh must look beyond the Middle East and identify alternative suppliers. Since the duration and long-term impact of the crisis are uncertain, diversifying supply sources is essential.

the government has said it will not raise fuel prices for now.

the state minister for Energy has stated that the government is losing Tk 167 crore per day from fuel sales-about Tk 5,010 crore per month.

according to the pricing formula, fuel prices were supposed to be adjusted from April 1. How justi?ed is the decision not to increase prices? I do not think the decision to keep domestic fuel prices unchanged, despite rising global prices, is appropriate.

the government should reassess and adjust prices from April 1 as per the existing mechanism. While the full cost increase may not need to be passed on to consumers for diesel and kerosene, petrol and octane prices should re?ect the full adjustment.

otherwise, how will the losses be ?nanced? The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has made pro?ts of around Tk 20,000 crore over the past few years, but if prices are not adjusted, it could fall into losses within 4-5 months. At the same time, the government’s ability to provide subsidies is limited, especially with a revenue shortfall of about Tk 60,000 crore in the ?rst eight months of the current ?scal year. Moreover, adjusting fuel prices is also tied to conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for loan disbursements. While such adjustments may temporarily increase in?ation, they are necessary for long-term economic management.

the government is trying to secure $2 billion in loans from development partners to cover higher fuel import costs. Can borrowing alone manage the price shock? The Asian Development Bank has announced ?nancial support for member countries to cope with energy price volatility caused by the Middle East con?ict. However, I don’t think similar support will be readily available from the World Bank or the IMF speci?cally for fuel imports, other than budgetary support.

the key question is whether loans should be used only for energy imports. Bangladesh also needs budgetary support in other sectors.

therefore, increasing domestic revenue collection is essential-there is no alternative. Bangladesh imports 30-35% of its gas as LNG, with about 75% coming from Qatar. Due to attacks on Ras Laffan, LNG facilities there have shut down, and supply contracts have been suspended under force majeure. What should be done? Relying on a single source for LNG- especially under long-term contracts- was a ?awed strategy.

even deals with Oman and Excelerate Energy are ultimately linked to the Qatari supply. During the interim government period, a long-term LNG contract with Summit Group was canceled.

if their supply source is outside Qatar, the current government should reconsider that agreement.

also, negotiations for importing RLNG via pipeline from India were previously suspended.

the government could restart talks with India’s H-Energy and Bangladesh’s Saudi-Bangla Pipeline Company to diversify supply sources and strengthen energy security. Countries like Japan are increasing coal use due to high oil and LNG prices. What should Bangladesh do? Should it move toward domestic coal extraction? For Bangladesh, ensuring a reliable energy supply is critical for both services and industrial growth. With ambitious employment targets, energy security becomes even more important.

at this stage, Bangladesh cannot afford to prioritize the debate between clean and ‘dirty’ energy over supply security. A political decision should be taken immediately to explore, extract, and utilize domestic coal.

experts can then determine the most environmentally sustainable and economically viable methods for extraction. What steps should Bangladesh take to quickly attract foreign investment for gas exploration? Bangladesh is one of the least explored countries in the region in terms of oil and gas. We need a wartime-level approach for exploration. Relying solely on Petrobangla and BAPEX is not enough.

to accelerate investment, the government can adopt a governmentto-government (G2G) approach.

alternatively, it should quickly ?nalize a new strategy, negotiate with international oil and gas companies, and sign production sharing contracts (PSCs).

exploration drilling should begin within a year.

otherwise, the country’s energy crisis will deepen further