Category: Energy and Power

Bangladesh has sought Trkiye’s support in strengthening climate resilience and expanding educational opportunities for homeless street children as part of efforts to address key social and environmental challenges. The request was made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam during a meeting with a delegation from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), led by Vice President Dr. Ali Ercan, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka recently. During the discussions, the state minister highlighted the need for specialized cooperation in implementing education programs for vulnerable street children and supporting sustainable climate adaptation initiatives in regions most exposed to the impacts of climate change

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo held a courtesy meeting with Michael Miller, Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, at the Bangladesh Secretariat recently. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and the European Union in addressing climate change, advancing the green energy transition, and promoting environmental sustainability.

the two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), climate ?nance, expansion of renewable energy, carbon credit mechanisms, the circular economy, green energy transition initiatives, and preparations for the upcoming COP31.

eU Ambassador Michael Miller praised Bangladesh’s initiatives in environmental protection and climate action. He expressed the European Union’s interest in expanding cooperation with Bangladesh on green energy transition and climate adaptation programs.

Bangladesh’s latest electricity tariff increase is more than a routine adjustment of utility prices.

it is a stark reminder of how vulnerable the country’s energy sector has become to global markets, policy missteps, and years of inadequate planning.

the of?cial justi?cation for the tariff hike is straightforward: electricity generation costs have risen sharply, driven by higher fuel prices, a weaker taka, and growing subsidy requirements. Yet the deeper question remains unanswered. Why should consumers bear the consequences of decisions over which they had no control? For more than a decade, Bangladesh expanded its power generation capacity at an unprecedented pace. While this helped eliminate widespread loadshedding, it also created a system with signi?cant excess capacity and substantial ?xed payments to power producers.

insuf?cient investment in domestic energy resources increased reliance on imported energy, exposing the sector to global price shocks and exchange-rate volatility. Costs rise, de?cits widen, subsidies increase, and tariffs are eventually raised. Consumers and industries are then asked to absorb the burden. However, price increases alone cannot solve structural weaknesses. Without reducing inef?ciencies, improving governance, and strengthening domestic energy security, higher tariffs will simply postpone the next crisis. Bangladesh needs a long-term strategy that prioritizes exploration of domestic gas resources, prudent generation planning, greater transparency, and accountability across the energy sector. Consumers should contribute to a sustainable power system, but they should not be expected to pay inde?nitely for avoidable mistakes.

the real challenge is not merely generating electricity.

it is generating it ef?ciently, affordably, and responsibly.

A solar power system installed at Service Area-2 of the Padma Bridge has signi?cantly reduced electricity costs while supporting the government’s renewable energy transition efforts. According to a recent press release issued by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), the 2.49-megawatt peak (MWp) solar plant is operating under a net metering system connected to the national grid. Electricity generated during the day is used to meet the service area’s demand, while surplus power is supplied to the grid. Secretary of the Bridges Division and Executive Director of the BBA Mohammad Abdur Rouf said the successful use of renewable energy at a major national infrastructure project like the Padma Bridge is an important step toward sustainable development.

Bangladesh plans to drill and rework 58 oil and gas wells between 2028 and 2031 as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen energy security, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood told Parliament recently. The minister said the program will support domestic energy exploration, while new drilling locations will be identi?ed through ongoing seismic surveys. The government will also procure a 1,500-horsepower drilling rig to enhance the capacity of state-owned BAPEX. Bangladesh has already launched the Offshore Bidding Round 2026, covering 26 offshore blocks, including 15 deep-sea and 11 shallow-water blocks, to attract international investment in oil and gas exploration. The government also plans to expand LNG infrastructure in Moheshkhali, build new gas transmission pipelines and diversify fuel import sources to ensure a stable energy supply

Trkiye’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) has reduced grid fees by 68% for approximately 800 ?rstgeneration unlicensed solar power plants that have completed their tenyear feed-in tariff (FIT) support period.

under the new regulation, the grid fee has been lowered from TRY 2.081/ kWh to TRY 0.656/kWh (about $0.014/ kWh).

the measure applies to solar facilities commissioned before 2019 and is intended to ease ?nancial pressure on plant operators following the expiration of government-backed purchase guarantees.

according to state-run Anadolu Agency, the affected facilities have a combined capacity of around 500 MW to 550 MW.

industry stakeholders say the high grid fees had forced some plants to suspend operations when electricity market prices fell below distribution costs. Unlicensed solar installations, typically developed for selfconsumption projects of up to 5 MW, dominate Trkiye’s solar market. Data from transmission system operator TEIAS show that unlicensed projects account for more than 22 GW of the country’s nearly 25 GW of installed solar capacity.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has said that the government increased fuel prices to align domestic rates with the international market. Speaking to reporters recently, the state minister said the government had no alternative but to take the unpopular decision. He also noted that the fuel price adjustment would have no impact on the upcoming national budget.

expressing optimism about the global energy situation, Amit said he hoped tensions and disruptions in the Middle East would be resolved soon. He added that fuel prices in Bangladesh would be reduced if global oil prices decline.

Finland-based energy startup Granarium Technologies has secured more than pound 1.0 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize a breakthrough renewable supercapacitor technology designed to support grid stability and industrial power reliability.

the funding round was led by BSV Ventures, with participation from Beamline, FiBAN, EstBAN, and LatBAN. The company, a spin-off from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has also received the transfer of the underlying technology and intellectual property from VTT. Granarium’s patented technology uses nanocellulose and biocarbon derived from waste wood and agricultural residues to produce renewable supercapacitors that can store and release electricity rapidly. The company says the technology offers a safer, more sustainable alternative to conventional energy storage systems while reducing production costs by up to 80%.

Bangladesh observed World Environment Day 2026 on June 5 with a series of programs across the country, highlighting the importance of environmental protection, climate resilience and public awareness in addressing growing ecological challenges. Government agencies, educational institutions, environmental organizations and development partners marked the day through rallies, discussions, tree plantation campaigns and awareness-building activities.

observed under the theme ‘Inspired by Nature, For Climate, For Our Future,’ World Environment Day serves as the United Nations’ leading platform for promoting environmental awareness and encouraging collective action for a sustainable future.

emphasizing the role of creative media in climate advocacy, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon called on ?lmmakers to use cinema as a powerful tool for raising awareness about climate change and environmental conservation.

Conrad Asia Energy has secured an ADES jack-up rig for the development of the Mako gas ?eld in Indonesia’s Natuna Sea, with drilling operations scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027.

through its subsidiary West Natuna Exploration, the company signed a binding agreement with PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia and the PDSI-ADES consortium to deploy the Admarine 502 rig.

the contract covers the drilling of six development wells and the installation of conductor support infrastructure over a 180-day period, with options for extension. Gas from the Mako ?eld will be transported via a 59-kilometre pipeline to the KF platform in the neighbouring Kakap PSC before entering the West Natuna Transportation System (WNTS) pipeline for delivery to Indonesia’s domestic market.

the Mako project, located in the Duyung Production Sharing Contract (PSC) area, was discovered in 2017 and reached a ?nal investment decision (FID) in March 2026.