Category: Energy and Power

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently stressed the need for coordinated efforts among ministries, government agencies and local bodies to ensure sustainable pollution control, effective waste management and environmental protection.

Speaking at a ministerial meeting on waste management and pollution control at the Secretariat, Fakhrul said rapid urbanisation, poor waste management, indiscriminate dumping of waste into rivers and the widespread use of single-use plastics and polythene bags have intensifi ed environmental challenges.

He also called for stronger efforts to reduce the use of harmful polythene bags and promote eco-friendly alternatives.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, who attended the meeting, outlined his ministry’s ongoing conservation initiatives and stressed greater coordination among government institutions alongside enhanced public awareness to safeguard the environment.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government will present a 10year plan for the power and energy sectors before the Jatiya Sangsad to ensure reliable electricity and gas supplies for industries, households, transport and essential public services.

Speaking at a program in Chattogram on August 10, the prime minister stressed the need to diversify energy sources and give priority to economic viability, environmental impacts and long-term public interests in power and energy projects.

During a visit to the Matarbari deep-sea port area in Cox’s Bazar, Tarique also inspected the 1,200MW Matarbari Ultra-Supercritical CoalFired Power Plant and called for effi cient use and regular maintenance of existing energy infrastructure, alongside greater transparency and accountability in project management.

Intraco Refueling Station has resumed compressed natural gas (CNG) supplies to industrial areas in Dhaka, Gazipur and nearby regions after a nearly nine-month disruption, following regulatory clearance for its gas transportation vehicles.

The Department of Explosives approved Intraco’s tube-trailer and cascade-cylinder vehicles after inspections confi rmed their technical fi tness.

The approval allows the company to restart gas transportation from Bhola to industries outside the national pipeline network.

Intraco had suspended most of its operations in November 2025 after withdrawing 35 unlicensed vehicles following regulatory instructions.

The authority subsequently licensed 18 tube-trailer trucks and recently granted six-month permission for another 20 cascade-cylinder trailers

BP has agreed to acquire Woodside Energy’s 70% interest in the Calypso deepwater gas project in Trinidad and Tobago, giving BP full ownership and operatorship.

Located about 220 km offshore in waters around 2,100 meters deep, Calypso comprises several gas discoveries in Blocks 23(a) and TTDAA 14.

The project is at an early development stage and is close to existing LNG and downstream infrastructure.

BP, already Trinidad and Tobago’s largest domestic gas supplier and a 45% shareholder in Atlantic LNG, said the acquisition could help unlock new production and support long-term regional growth.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to government and regulatory approvals.

The sale will also mark Woodside’s exit from Trinidad and Tobago.

Bangladesh and the United States have discussed signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in LNG and LPG, as Dhaka seeks to strengthen long-term energy security.

The issue was discussed at a meeting between Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood and senior US Embassy offi cials in Dhaka, including Political and Economic Counsellor Eric Geelan.

The two sides explored opportunities to increase US investment and business participation in Bangladesh’s energy sector and expand government-togovernment cooperation.

They also discussed existing challenges to bilateral energy cooperation and possible measures to establish a roadmap for closer collaboration.

The proposed MoU could provide a formal framework for identifying priority areas and expanding future energy partnerships.

The discussions also took place ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to the United States, with both sides highlighting the potential for stronger energy cooperation.

Bangladesh has sought Malaysia’s assistance to ease the country’s ongoing gas crisis following the shutdown of a fl oating LNG terminal in Moheshkhali.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wrote to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and spoke with him by phone, seeking both immediate and long-term cooperation in addressing the gas supply shortage.

Anwar assured Bangladesh that Malaysia would explore possible avenues of support, Amit said.

The crisis began after a technical failure at an Excelerate Energy-operated FSRU off Moheshkhali disrupted around 500-600 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of regasifi cation capacity, affecting households, industries, power plants and CNG stations.

Amit said Excelerate offi cials and local and international experts are working to restore the facility.

Bangladesh received some relief from its severe gas shortage after a damaged fl oating storage and regasifi cation unit (FSRU) at Moheshkhali resumed operations, following a recent two-week shutdown.

The FSRU restarted on August 6 after one of its two boilers was repaired.

It initially began regasifying around 115 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of LNG, according to Petrobangla.

With the restart, combined LNG regasifi cation from Bangladesh’s two FSRUs rose to around 620 MMCFD, from 490 MMCFD the previous day.

Output from the repaired FSRU is expected to exceed 250 MMCFD, while total regasifi cation could reach around 800 MMCFD after another LNG cargo is transferred to the terminal.

Petrobangla offi cials said full-scale operation could take another week.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said gas supply across the country could return to normal within two to three days as transmission pressure gradually improves.

State-owned Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) has invited international bids for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a 220 MW solar power project in Sonagazi, Feni district.

Interested fi rms have been asked to submit their bids by September 15, while a pre-bid meeting will be held on August 19.

Under the tender, the selected contractor will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the project and must complete the work within 18 months of contract signing.

According to the bidding requirements, participating companies must have achieved an average annual construction turnover of at least US$130 million over the past three years.

Bidding documents are available for a non-refundable fee of BDT 36,000 (US$300), and each bid must be accompanied by a bid security of BDT 310 million (US$2.5 million).

The Sonagazi solar project received approval in December last year with fi nancial backing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The United States Energy Association (USEA) has hosted a high-level forum examining the growing link between energy infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), national security and economic resilience.

The forum, titled ‘Navigating the Nexus: Pax Silica, AI Infrastructure, National Security, and Economic Resilience,’ brought together government offi cials, energy executives and international policymakers to discuss the massive electricity demand required to support AI, semiconductor production and next-generation digital infrastructure.

USEA President and CEO Mark Menezes said the world has entered the era of ‘Pax Silica,’ where geopolitical stability and economic competitiveness increasingly depend on secure semiconductor supply chains and reliable energy systems.

Rising fuel prices and supply concerns triggered by the Middle East confl ict have sharply boosted electric vehicle (EV) sales, with global sales rising 35% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

EV sales reached record levels in 50 countries during the April-June period as oil price volatility renewed concerns over energy security.

Crude prices surged from around $60 a barrel at the beginning of the year to nearly $120 following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.

The IEA said the crisis has highlighted EVs as a way for oil-importing countries to reduce dependence on imported fuels while protecting consumers and businesses from fuelprice volatility.

Several Southeast Asian countries affected by high fuel costs introduced temporary tax incentives to encourage EV purchases.

Government support in Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America is also expected to sustain demand.

The IEA forecasts global EV sales will grow by around 10% in 2026, reaching about 29% of total car sales, despite an expected decline in the overall automobile market.