Category: Energy and Power

QatarEnergy has suspended work on its the North Field Expansion (NFE) project due to the US-Iran con?ict in the Persian Gulf that began on February 28, 2026. The suspension of the NFE project is part of a cessation of LNG production at Qatar’s Ras Laffan and Mesaieed industrial cities following targeted Iranian drone strikes on these facilities. While the onshore processing plants were physically struck, offshore expansion activities (drilling and platform installation) have been effectively paralyzed by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have declared the waterway closed to all traf?c, and most international marine insurers have canceled war risk cover for vessels in the Gulf.

The 330MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Shahjibazar in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj has resumed partial e l e c t r i c i t y p r o d u c t i o n after remaining shut for 48 months following a ?re incident. Power generation at the plant had been suspended since 29 May 2022, when a transformer on the transmission line caught ?re. Although the blaze was quickly controlled, two of the plant’s three transformers were completely destroyed, while the third became inoperative a few days later, halting electricity supply to the national grid. Sources said the plant remained idle for years due to delays in approving the roughly Tk45 crore needed to restore the damaged transformers. The prolonged shutdown reportedly caused an estimated Tk20,000 crore loss to the government.

The United Nations recently announced the approval of the ?rst carbon credits under a global market aimed at reducing emissions, a mechanism that has faced scrutiny over greenwashing concerns.

the UN-run market, established under the Paris climate accord, allows companies and countries to offset their excess emissions by ?nancing projects that cut greenhouse gases in other nations. Critics fear that if set up poorly, such schemes can undermine the world’s efforts to curb global warming by allowing countries or companies to greenwash – or overstate – their emissions reductions.

the ?rst credits issued under new carbon market involve a project in Myanmar that distributes ef?cient woodburning cookstoves that reduce harmful household air pollution and ease pressure on forests, UN agency said.

Electricity from B a n g l a d e s h ‘ s l o n g – a w a i t e d Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant could begin ?owing into the national grid by June or early July as the authorities prepare to start loading nuclear fuel into the plant’s ?rst unit early next month.

according to project of?cials, preparations are underway to begin fuel loading in the ?rst week of April.

testing and synchronization are then expected to continue through May and June, potentially allowing the ?rst unit to start supplying electricity to the national grid by June or July.

initially, the plant will provide electricity on a trial basis and at irregular intervals. Gradually, the facility will move towards full-scale generation. Project of?cials said that the ?rst unit is expected to be ready for fuel loading by the end of March.

a fuel-loading ceremony will be organized and is expected to involve senior of?cials from Bangladesh and Russia. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate the process, while a Russian minister and other senior of?cials may also be present.

Delegates at the United Nations’ nuclear agency held a meeting recently for an extraordinary session on Iran in the wake of the USIsraeli strikes on the Islamic republic. Russia, a key ally of Tehran, requested the meeting at the Viennabased International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following the same request by Iran.

the extraordinary meeting precedes an already scheduled regular session of the IAEA’s board of governors, which represents 35 countries. Following the strikes, the IAEA — which monitors Iran’s nuclear program — said on Saturday that it was ‘closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region’.

If Bangladesh wants industrialization and job creation, the priority must be to ensure an adequate energy supply commensurate with the demand.

at the same time, energy must be supplied at competitive prices compared to other countries.

to achieve this, there is no alternative to maximizing the use of domestic energy resources such as gas and coal.

it should also be remembered that Bangladesh has limited opportunities to achieve major success in renewable energy development.

therefore, the new government must immediately make decisions and ?nalize plans regarding the use of domestic gas and coal so that the country’s energy supply can be secured in the medium and long term.

these remarks were made by Abul Kasem Khan, Chairman of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), in a conversation with Mollah Amzad Hossain, editor of Energy and Power.

the full interview is presented below: The war in the Middle East is ongoing and has created a global crisis, particularly affecting energy supply and prices. How do you see its potential impact on Bangladesh? War always creates multiple risks for the global economy, especially in terms of energy supply and prices.

the Middle East is the lifeline of the energy supply chain for Asian countries, including Bangladesh.

as far as I know, around 25-30 percent of the world’s total energy demand is supplied by Middle Eastern countries.

as a result, the US-Israel attack on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel and U.S. military bases in neighboring countries have disrupted energy production and supply in the region, particularly oil and gas. Because supplies were disrupted for about seven days, global prices of oil and gas have already increased.

the impact on Bangladesh’s fragile economy will be signi?cant. We have not yet recovered from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war.

the ongoing con?ict will again negatively affect Bangladesh’s energy supply and prices.

if in?ation rises and the U.S. dollar strengthens further against the Bangladeshi taka, the country’s economic challenges will intensify.

in my view, even if the war ends, Bangladesh will not immediately recover from the effects of high energy prices and supply shortages.

therefore, we must begin practicing energy austerity in all sectors and reduce energy consumption.

the government has already started working on this, and the effort could be strengthened through public-private dialogue. Bangladesh currently depends on imports for about 56 percent of its energy. Meanwhile, global prices of oil and LNG are rising due to the war. Bangladesh has already purchased LNG from the spot market at more than double the usual price. What strategies should the new government adopt to deal with this pressure? There is no single solution to this problem.

importing energy requires foreign currency.

even during wartime conditions of high prices and supply constraints, an uninterrupted energy supply to industries must be ensured because maintaining exports is essential.

otherwise, foreign currency earnings will decline.

even while practicing austerity, the government must ensure the minimum energy supply required by industries. From discussions in the media, I understand that Bangladesh relies heavily on Middle Eastern countries for oil, LNG, and LPG. Considering the current con?ict, the country should focus on diversifying the sources of LNG imports.

the government has stated that there will be no shortage of fuel oil in the country, but people remain anxious.

in this context, the initiative to introduce rationing in this sector is appropriate.

at the same time, steps must be taken to ensure ef?cient energy use at all levels.

electricity consumption in the residential sector has increased signi?cantly in recent years, so ef?ciency improvements are needed there. However, the effectiveness of planned load-shedding should be carefully evaluated before implementing electricity rationing policies.

one of the most notable promises in the BNP election manifesto is the creation of 15 million new jobs within 18 months. To achieve this, restoring entrepreneurs’ con?dence in investing in the service and manufacturing sectors is essential. It also requires ensuring energy and power supply, and reducing the cost of doing business. What should be the government’s priority? The majority of these 15 million new jobs must come from the private sector. However, businesses in Bangladesh are highly regulated. Sometimes, more than30 licenses and approvals are required for a single investment.

in this digital era, why can’t we provide a single unique business number to manage all business activities? We must remember that a regulatory system designed in the 1980s cannot attract investment in today’s world. Industrial mapping should be conducted, and a single-point service should be ensured for new investments. If we want to create 15 million jobs, we need to develop at least 100,000 new and young entrepreneurs.

to attract them, new investments could be granted tax-free bene?ts for ?ve years. Now, let me return to the energy issue. Currently, the industrial sector is not receiving gas supply according to its demand.

in addition, there is signi?cant latent demand. Many applications for gas connections for industrial expansion and new investments are pending with various gas companies.

if these connections are not provided-and if gas supply does not meet demand-industrialization will not progress.

this will become the biggest obstacle to creating new jobs. To resolve this issue, the government should determine strategies through discussions with entrepreneurs. Bangladesh is presenting itself to the world as a ‘China+1’ destination to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Many foreign investors are showing interest and visiting the country. However, when they see that there is no guarantee of energy supply for their investments, they often leave. Therefore, without ensuring energy security, it will not be possible to attract either domestic or foreign investment.

in 2024, Bangladesh spent about $20 billion on importing energy and electricity and repaying loans in this sector.

it is estimated that the spending could rise to $24 billion this year.

at the same time, dependence on energy imports continues to grow, while there is also the risk of high energy prices in the global market. What should be done to control imports? There is no short-term solution to this problem. However, we must immediately ?nalize medium- and long-term strategies to address this crisis.

effective initiatives must be taken to explore and utilize our domestic energy resources.

in terms of domestic resources, we mainly have gas and coal. For oil and gas exploration, we should adopt a wartime-level approach and ensure both domestic and international investment, increasing exploration activities 20-30 times compared to the current level. Bangladesh is one of the countries with relatively low carbon emissions globally. So why should there be obstacles to exploring and utilizing our own coal resources? By using domestic coal, we could secure enough fuel to generate electricity for around 75 years.

therefore, electricity generation should rely more on coal, while natural gas should be reserved primarily as fuel for industries.

i do not know what the BNP’s position is on coal development. However, no more time should be wasted on this issue-the new government must make a decision immediately.

in my view, the energy mix proposed in the 2010 Power System Master Plan should be followed. Sector experts believe that ensuring energy security requires immediate, wartime-level efforts to explore domestic gas and extract coal.

at the same time, urgent programs are needed to develop renewable energy. What action plans should be included in the government’s 180-day program to ensure this? In my opinion, Bangladesh has limited opportunities to achieve major success in renewable energy.

one reason is that there is little scope to install large-scale solar power without damaging fertile agricultural land. However, we should try to achieve the maximum possible success through rooftop solar systems.

to ensure energy security, the 180day program should give priority to exploring, extracting, and utilizing coal and gas.

at the same time, measures must be taken to minimize environmental damage from coal mining. People who are displaced should be properly rehabilitated with improved living conditions, just as is done in other development projects. Using environmental concerns as an excuse to leave the country’s largest energy resource-coal-unused is not acceptable.

over the past decade, electricity consumption in the industrial sector has remained limited to about 27-28 percent of total usage. Meanwhile, use of captive power generation has increased, consuming about 17 percent of the country’s total gas supply. What should the government do to ensure that industries use grid electricity instead? It is not the responsibility of entrepreneurs to produce electricity for their own needs. However, because industries cannot rely on uninterrupted, high-quality electricity from the grid, factory owners have been forced to invest in captive power plants.

if the government can ensure a reliable, high-quality electricity supply from the grid, industries will certainly prefer using grid power.

the new government should urgently take initiatives to guarantee an uninterrupted and quality electricity supply. Despite large subsidies, many institutions in the power and energy sector continue to operate at a loss. Meanwhile, outstanding in the sector is estimated at around $5 billion. What steps are needed to restore the ?nancial viability? To restore ?nancial discipline in the sector, wasteful spending must be stopped across the board, and unnecessary expenditures must be controlled.

if increased costs in the power and energy sector are due to ?awed planning, policies should be revised to correct those mistakes. However, subsidies should continue in the interest of the economy, industrialization, and the public.

at this moment, it is not possible to completely withdraw subsidies from the energy and power sector. We must remember that subsidies currently act as an incentive to maintain the country’s productivity.

to restore good governance in the power and energy sector and transform it into a people-oriented and industryfriendly sector, what should be the government’s top priority? This task is not easy, but it is achievable with planned steps. First, all irregularities and corruption in the power and energy sector must be investigated and punished.

this will create fear among of?cials and employees about engaging in similar misconduct in the future.

at the same time, monitoring must be ensured at every stage-from project approval to implementation. Additionally, the boards and management of institutions, especially state-owned companies, should be free from political considerations and staffed with competent and quali?ed professionals

As the Mideast crisis stokes concern about fuel security, Bangladesh’s state-run energy corporation Petrobangla has requested an additional US$250million loan guarantee from the World Bank to augment lique?ed natural gas (LNG) imports, of?cials say.

the fresh fund request would add up to an existing $350-million guarantee facility approved last year. The total fund support from World Bank’s concessional lending arm, IDA, would come to $600 million for the country’s energy-security program, Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) of?cials said recently. Bangladesh government’s move is part of a strategic shift to stabilize energy supply as the raging MiddleEast con?ict might affect the energy security following the depleting domestic gas reserves, they said. Earlier on December 23 last year, the government of Bangladesh signed deal with the WB for getting the IDA’s $350-million-loan guarantee for purchasing LNG from the global spot market.

Since 2010, Bangladesh has signi?cantly expanded electricity generation by establishing numerous power plants under short-, medium-, and long-term plans based on a conventional fossil fuel mix. However, exploration of domestic fossil fuel resources did not continue in line with the country’s growing energy demand.

to meet rising electricity demand, Bangladesh began setting up power plants dependent on imported coal, LNG, and liquid fuels.

as of January 2026, Bangladesh’s installed capacity reached 28,919 MW.

the fuel mix is presented as below: FUEL SOURCE CAPACITY (MW) PERCENTAGE Natural Gas 12,472 MW 43.13% Coal 6,273 MW 21.69% Furnace Oil 5,641 MW 19.51% Import 2,696 MW 9.32% Renewables 839 MW 2.90% Others (Diesel/Hydro) 998 MW 3.46% Available data show that gas-based generation capacity stands at 12,472 MW out of a total installed capacity of 28,919 MW. However, due to limited gas supply, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) can generate only around 5,000 MW from gas-based plants.

this means nearly 7,000 MW of gas-?red capacity remains idle because of gas shortages.

as domestic fuel supply declined, dependence on imported fossil fuels increased signi?cantly.

imported fuels such as coal, LNG, and liquid fuels are costly, volatile, and subject to international market ?uctuations.

as a result, uninterrupted electricity supply cannot be fully guaranteed, even though Bangladesh has developed generation capacity far exceeding current demand.

in 2025, for example, electricity generation reached 16,794 MW to meet the demand of around 17,000 MW.

a large share of the country’s power generation capacity relies on imported primary energy. BPDB can operate only its 525 MW Barapukuria plant using domestic coal.

all other coal-based power plants depend on imported coal. Similarly, around 30 percent of natural gas now comes from imported LNG, while about 90 percent of furnace oil is imported. Consequently, electricity generation costs depend heavily on international fuel prices, which are both high and volatile.

according to recent BPDB statistics, the per-unit fuel cost of electricity generation varies widely depending on thfuel source. Gas-based power plants generate electricity at around Tk 3.86 per unit, while coal-based plants have a fuel cost of approximately Tk 7.23 per unit.

in contrast, furnace oil-based plants have a much higher fuel cost of around Tk 19.11 per unit.

these costs ?uctuate with international market conditions.

the average electricity generation cost during FY 2024-25 was about Tk 11.83 per unit. Heavy dependence on imported LNG, liquid fuel, and coal cannot ensure longterm energy security or stability in the power sector.

this vulnerability became evident during the Russia-Ukraine war, when global fuel markets were severely disrupted. Similarly, ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including con?icts involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, have created additional uncertainty in LNG and liquid fuel supplies.

to ensure sustainable and affordable electricity for the country, Bangladesh must gradually reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and expand renewable energy. Currently, only about 839 MW of renewable power capacity is connected to the national grid.

of this, just 60 MW comes from an onshore wind farm in Cox’s Bazar, which is clearly insuf?cient. Several initiatives have been taken to expand renewable energy.

the National Renewable Energy Policy 2025 has set ambitious targets: meeting 20 percent of the country’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040.

achieving these targets will require adding approximately 3,000 MW of renewable capacity by 2030 and about 4,100 MW by 2040.

at present, most efforts focus on developing solar power plants to achieve renewable energy targets. However, solar alone cannot meet the country’s renewable energy requirements for several reasons: ? Limited availability of land for large solar installations. ? Solar plants generate power only during daylight hours, with peak output lasting only two to three hours. ? The plant factor is relatively low, typically between 18 and 20 percent. ? Additional generation capacity or battery storage is required to meet evening peak demand. ? Solar power supported by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for evening supply can cost more than Tk 20 per unit, which is very high. ? After a certain level of solar penetration, low-cost base-load plants may have to reduce output, potentially increasing overall generation costs. Given these limitations, Bangladesh should not rely solely on solar power to meet renewable energy goals.

instead, greater attention should be given to wind energy, the country’s second major renewable resource. Bangladesh has moderate average wind speeds of around 5.5 meters per second in coastal regions, with higher wind speeds in offshore areas.

in regions with strong wind resources, the cost of wind power generation typically ranges from 4 to 6 cents per unit. However, because Bangladesh’s wind speeds are moderate, generation costs are somewhat higher. Bazar has a tariff of about 12 cents per unit and a plant factor of roughly 22 percent-higher than that of most solar projects.

encouragingly, advances in wind turbine technology are making wind power more viable in areas with low to moderate wind speeds. Key technological improvements include: ? Reduced cut-in wind speeds-from about 3.5 m/s to below 3 m/s. ? Manufacturing of larger-capacity wind turbines, some exceeding 10 MW.

these innovations increase plant ef?ciency and reduce generation costs. In the near future, wind power costs could fall to around 8-10 cents per unit and potentially decline further as technology advances. Why Wind Power Is Essential Alongside Solar Wind energy offers several advantages when developed alongside solar power: ? With recent technological advances, wind power tariffs can become economically viable. ? Unlike solar, wind can generate electricity throughout both day and night without battery storage. ? Evening electricity generation from solar requires expensive battery storage, costing around Tk 20 per unit, whereas wind power costs remain stable at around Tk 12 per unit. ? Wind power generation often increases at night, which complements solar generation patterns. ? Diversifying renewable energy sources strengthens the overall energy mix. Bangladesh has a long coastline where average wind speeds range between 5.5 and 7.0 meters per second, while offshore wind speeds are even higher. Identifying the most suitable areas for wind farms is therefore essential.

the Way Forward Developing wind energy is a long-term process.

unlike solar projects, wind farms require extensive site-speci?c wind data before construction begins. Therefore, the following steps should be initiated immediately: ? Conduct extensive wind resource assessments using met masts or LiDAR technology across onshore, nearshore, and offshore coastal areas. ? Carry out feasibility studies in potential locations. ? Identify and select viable sites for wind farm development. ? Begin phased implementation of wind power projects.

to ensure long-term energy security in the power sector, Bangladesh must develop wind farms in onshore, nearshore, and offshore areas alongside solar power plants. However, wind power development requires at least two to three years of wind data collection.

including feasibility studies, planning, and construction, a typical wind power project may take around ?ve years to complete.

therefore, if Bangladesh aims to meet its renewable energy targets, comprehensive wind resource studies must begin immediately. Diversifying the country’s renewable energy portfolio is essential to building a secure, affordable, and sustainable power sector.

Climate advocates across the Paci?c will now prepare for the Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu, with the Paci?c Islands Forum con?rming the hosts recently. 350.org Paci?c welcomes the announcement that Fiji will host the pre-COP31 meeting and Tuvalu will host a special leaders’ component, under an agreement negotiated between Australia and Turkey. Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Paci?c and Caribbean Program Lead says: ‘We welcome the pre-COP31 meetings to our islands, but we expect the Paci?c to serve as more than just a backdrop to these discussions. As people on the frontlines, we expect leaders to not only bear witness to our realities, but to let this drive both the agenda and the expectations for COP31. Meaningful leadership from impacted communities is important to secure COP31 outcomes that safeguard our future, especially as a current draft of the key COP31 agenda excludes any mention of fossil fuels – the leading cause of the climate crisis.

The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) organized a regional webinar titled ‘Climate Change and Fisheries in South Asia’ on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, bringing together experts from across the region to discuss the growing impact of climate change on marine and freshwater ?sheries and possible adaptation strategies.

the event featured two keynote speakers: Sevvandi Jayakody, Chair Professor in the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and B. K. Das, Director of ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, India. Dr. B. K. Das explained that climate variability is increasingly affecting freshwater ?sheries, altering river ?ows and aquatic habitats. He emphasized the importance of adaptive management and sustainable use of aquatic resources to address these emerging challenges.