Category: Energy and Power

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.

Renewable energy now accounts for more than 30% of global electricity generation, but progress toward achieving universal access to affordable, reliable and clean energy by 2030 remains too slow, according to the 2026 Energy Progress Report.

The report, jointly prepared by the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN DESA, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights signifi cant advances in renewable power while warning of persistent regional disparities and slowing improvements in energy effi ciency.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the biggest challenge, with more than 560 million people still lacking electricity and 970 million without access to clean cooking.

The report estimates that the region’s electrifi cation rate must triple to achieve universal energy access by 2030.

Although renewable electricity continues to expand rapidly, the report notes that the use of renewables in the heating and transport sectors remains limited.

It also fi nds that global energy effi ciency improvements slowed to 1.5% in 2023, down from 2.4% in 2022, raising concerns about meeting climate and energy targets.

The Power Division recently held a nationwide virtual meeting to assess complaints of unusually high electricity bills issued in June and the prevailing load shedding across the country.

The meeting, conducted via Zoom, was chaired by Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh and attended by senior ministry offi cials, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners (DCs) from across the country, and representatives of electricity distribution utilities and companies.

During the meeting, offi cials sought to identify the reasons behind complaints of abnormally high electricity bills and gathered fi eld-level feedback on load shedding.

The latest progress on the installation of net meters under rooftop solar systems was also reviewed.

Offi cials noted that a signifi cant number of electricity consumers complained through the media and social media about receiving unusually high bills for June

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has raised its trade fi nance facility for Bangladesh to $3.3 billion for fi scal year 2026-27 to support imports of fuel oil, liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) and fertilizer.

The fi nancing marks a sharp rise from $2.23 billion provided in the previous fi scal year.

A fi nancing agreement was signed in Jeddah recently to that end, said a senior offi cial at the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky and ITFC Chief Executive Offi cer Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama signed the agreement.

According to ERD offi cials, the package includes $2.5 billion for the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to import fuel oil, $600 million for LNG imports and the rest is for fertilizer imports.

Bangladesh has reached a defi ning moment in its energy journey.

What was once viewed as a temporary gas shortage has evolved into a structural crisis that threatens industrial growth, export competitiveness, and long-term economic stability.

The country’s increasing dependence on imported energy, combined with declining domestic gas production and an uncertain geopolitical environment, has left little room for complacency.

The warning signs are unmistakable.

Domestic gas output continues to fall while demand keeps rising.

Existing LNG infrastructure is operating near its limits, yet new import facilities remain years away.

At the same time, industries are paying higher energy prices without receiving reliable gas or electricity, eroding productivity and discouraging investment.

Bangladesh cannot afford a fragmented approach to energy policy.

Expanding LNG imports is necessary, but it cannot become the only strategy.

Accelerating onshore exploration, encouraging offshore investment, developing stranded gas discoveries such as Bhola, and strengthening the institutions responsible for energy planning must become national priorities.

Delays in infrastructure development only increase future costs and deepen supply risks.

Investors need policy certainty, while energy institutions require greater technical capacity and operational autonomy to execute complex projects effi ciently.

The country’s economic ambitions depend on secure, affordable, and reliable energy.

Without it, Bangladesh risks losing competitiveness at a time when regional rivals are investing aggressively in energy infrastructure.

The energy challenge is no longer simply about producing more gas or importing more LNG.

It is about building a resilient energy system capable of supporting development for decades to come

Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has directed the authorities concerned to prepare a comprehensive national action plan to reduce carbon emissions and maximize Bangladesh’s carbon credit potential, aiming to position the country as a stronger participant in the rapidly growing global carbon market.

The directive came during a climate change meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Offi ce in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat recently, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized accelerating the expansion of renewable energy, promoting environmentally friendly technologies in industries, improving energy effi ciency, conserving forests, and implementing large-scale tree plantation programmes to enhance the country’s carbon absorption capacity

Bangladesh’s flagship 150well drilling program has achieved only about onethird of its targeted increase in natural gas production after four years, as declining output from ageing gas fi elds continues to outweigh new production, increasing the country’s dependence on imported liquefi ed natural gas (LNG).

According to offi cial data and a recent presentation submitted to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD), the program has added only 126 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas to the national grid, representing just 35.6 percent of its Development Project Proposal (DPP) target of 353 MMCFD.

Over the same four-year period, however, natural gas production from state-owned fi elds has declined by 140 MMCFD, with output falling to 709 MMCFD as of July 7, 2026, from 849 MMCFD recorded on July 6, 2022, according to Petrobangla.

The program was designed to substantially boost domestic gas production and reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on imported LNG, but production declines at mature gas fi elds have continued to erode much of the gains achieved through new drilling

The government will gradually reduce fuel prices whenever there is an opportunity to do so, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit said on 3 July.

Referring to the latest reduction in LPG cylinder prices, he said the government immediately lowered the price in line with changes in the global situation and will continue making similar adjustments whenever conditions allow.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with offi cials of the Palli Bidyut Samity and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) at the Jessore Circuit House, Amit said 98% of the country’s LPG is imported and that the sector is entirely dependent on the private sector.

He said fuel prices had increased due to the conflict in the Middle East, making it diffi cult for many households to manage their expenses.

However, as global conditions improved, the government adjusted LPG prices to provide some relief, he added.

Australia’s rooftop solar market remained resilient in June, with new installations totaling 322MW, despite recording a second consecutive monthly decline, according to the latest Smallscale Technology Certifi cate (STC) market data released by SunWiz.

The June fi gure was 4 percent lower than May and 26 percent below the record 435MW installed in April.

However, SunWiz said it was still the strongest June on record and that solar installations during the fi rst six months of 2026 were running about 41 percent ahead of the same period last year.

The slowdown has been attributed largely to reduced demand for battery systems following changes to the Australian government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate scheme that took effect on May 1.

The 10-15kW system category remained the largest market segment, accounting for about 118 MW, with strong growth in New South Wales and Queensland.

Meanwhile, larger system categories, particularly 20-30kW and 15-20kW, recorded notable monthon-month declines after driving April’s record performance.