Category: Energy and Power

New oil and gas projects may be necessary to maintain current production levels, the IEA said recently, as it is in a public feud with the Trump administration over its forecasts for lower demand.

the International Energy Agency said in a report that its analysis of 15,000 oil and gas fields showed that output was declining more rapidly than in the past, which has ‘implications for markets and energy security’.

the Paris-based agency produces annual reports about energy trends and has forecasted that oil demand will peak by the end of the decade, which would have considerable implications for investment in further oil production. The forecast, along with its implications for pledges by some governments to reach carbon neutrality, has drawn ire from the oil and gas industry.

the agency has also faced criticism over the past months from the administration of US President Donald Trump, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright threatening in July to pull out of the IEA if it did not reform how it operates.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has reported consistent monthly profits since the introduction of the automatic fuel pricing formula in March 2024, driven by regular price adjustments and margins on petrol, octane, and diesel sales. State-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been making profits every month since the introduction of the automatic fuel pricing formula last year. ‘We are making a profit as petroleum products are being sold at higher rates than the cost prices,’ said a senior official at BPC. He said the corporation has been consistently profitable since March 2024, when the government first introduced the automated pricing system. BPC currently earns up to 2.0 per cent profit on diesel sales and as much as 10 per cent on octane and petrol sales. Benefiting from regular adjustments under the new mechanism, BPC recorded profits of around Tk 20.50 billion in the fiscal year 202425, according to Ministry of Finance data.

Bangladesh has updated its net metering framework for solar.

the new rules aim to expand access and raise self-consumption among prosumers.

the government of Bangladesh has approved new net metering guidelines for 2025 to support rooftop solar and allow every power user to become a power producer. ‘This progressive policy makes rooftop solar easier, smarter, and more rewarding for households and businesses,’ the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) said in a notification. Under the new guidelines, 100% of the sanctioned load is now allowed for net-metered rooftop solar, compared with 70% in the past. The sanctioned load is the maximum amount of power that an electricity provider authorizes a consumer to use at any given time.

the new provisions encourage PV system owners to increase self-consumption levels.

the guidelines also allow singlephase consumers to produce power under net metering.

under the previous rules, only three-phase consumers were eligible. Producers under net metering will receive direct payment in Bangladeshi taka into their bank or mobile banking accounts for electricity supplied to the grid.

the new framework also introduces an online application system for net metering and authorizes consumers with prepaid or smart meters to participate in the scheme.

in the past, this was limited to consumers with postpaid meters.

Kazakhstan has launched a National Project to modernize its energy and utility sectors for the period 2025-2029, with planned investments of 13 trillion tenge (over $24 billion).

the initiative aims to upgrade existing infrastructure and construct new power generation, transmission, and water supply systems. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced the preliminary cost estimate during the ‘National Project for the Modernization of the Energy and Utility Sectors: Opportunities for Kazakh Business’ conference. According to Bozumbayev, the funds will support the repair and construction of 86,000 kilometers of utility networks and add 7.3 GW in new generation capacity. ‘Today, we have established the necessary regulatory framework to ensure long-term and affordable financing from financial institutions. We have now moved to the practical stage of the National Project.

this year, pilot investments of around 144 billion tenge ($266 million) have been raised for 48 natural monopoly entities,’ Bozumbayev stated. Financing will be sourced both domestically and internationally. The Kazakhstan Housing Company has already purchased bonds worth 22.5 billion tenge ($41 million) from local administrations in the Karaganda, Pavlodar, West Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan regions. The Development Bank of Kazakhstan is also finalizing assessments for selected projects.

Geoteric will supply its AI software to help PETRONAS Carigali firm up new exploration prospects, with the duo also planning to collaborate on new AI-based technology developments. Geoteric, a developer of AIdriven software, has signed an agreement to strengthen its partnership with PETRONAS Carigali.

it would involve use of AI to identify new hydrocarbon prospects more quickly increase the company’s drilling success rate and speed up its exploration activities in general. Geoteric claims that its service for integration into existing geoscience workflow, has helped deliver reductions in cycle times of up to 90%, helping geoscientists take faster, better informed decisions, and ultimately providing quicker payback on seismic data investments.

Affected farming and fishing communities held a protest yesterday at the site of the proposed Matarbari coal plant Phase 2, demanding that the Bangladesh government abandon plans to revive the controversial project. The action was part of Draw the Line, a global week of mobilization (September 1921) to demand urgent climate action, building momentum towards the UN climate talks COP30. In 2022, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) withdrew funding from Matarbari Phase 2 due to environmental concerns, after sustained pressure from international and local civil society organizations. Bangladesh officials recently indicated intentions to seek alternative funding sources to proceed with the 1,200 MW coal plant, to the dismay of climate group 350.org Bangladesh. ‘The world is moving away from coal, yet Bangladesh continues to burden its people with expensive, polluting projects that will lock us into decades of environmental destruction and debt,’ said Amanullah Porag, 350.org South Asia Mobilizations Coordinator. According to the International Energy Agency, after reaching a new high in 2024, global demand for coal is set to decline in the coming years, as renewable energy costs plummet. Over 40 countries have committed to phasing out coal power, and major financiers worldwide are divesting from coal projects.

China’s EV giant has unveiled the 14.5 MWh DC ‘Haohan’ single-unit DC block with record-breaking capacity to challenge next-generation energy storage market. BYD has unveiled a new DC energy storage system with the world’s largest singleunit capacity of 14.5 MWh, intensifying competition in the fast-growing utilityscale storage market.

the ‘Haohan’ system was launched on September 18 at the International Digital Energy Expo in Shenzhen.

the company said Haohan’s minimum unit capacity of 14. 5MWh is more than double the industry norm of 6-7 MWh. When configured within a standard 20-foot container, the system delivers 10 MWh and achieves a volumetric energy density of 233 kWh per cubic meter, a 51% increase on the industry average. For a 1 GWh storage plant, Haohan would cut the number of required units by more than half, reduce land use by one-third, and trim cell count by 76%.

Ch ief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has underscored the urgent need for Bangladesh to transition towards cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy solutions as the country navigates a new path toward sustainable economic development. Speaking during a recent virtual conference with Carl Page, Chairman of the Anthropocene Institute, and his colleagues, Professor Yunus said Bangladesh-one of the world’s most densely populated and climatevulnerable nations-cannot afford prolonged reliance on fossil fuels. ‘It is time for Bangladesh to seriously consider clean energy alternatives, including large-scale solar deployment,’ Professor Yunus said. Carl Page, brother of Google co-founder Larry Page, highlighted recent advancements in next-generation nuclear technologies and hybrid systems that offer reliable, zero-carbon power. He emphasized that barge-mounted nuclear reactors are cost-effective, low-maintenance, and capable of powering Bangladesh’s growing industrial sector for decades. Nuclear power is no longer a taboo topic among major development financiers like the World Bank, Page said, adding that countries such as Indonesia are already adopting these technologies to meet their rising energy demands. BIDA, DESCO Sign MoU to Install 150kWp Rooftop Solar System at Biniyog Bhaban The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) Limited recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to install, operate, and maintain a 150 kilowattpeak (kWp) rooftop solar power system at BIDA’s headquarters at Agargaon in the city. The signing ceremony, held at the Investment Building’s conference room, was presided over by BIDA Executive Chairman (State Minister) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, said a press release. DESCO Managing Director Brigadier General Shamim Ahmed ndc, PSC (retd) attended the event as special guest.

on behalf of BIDA, the MoU was signed by Director Md. Maruful Alam, while DESCO’s Company Secretary Engineer Mohammad Kamruzzaman signed on behalf of the power distributor.

according to the agreement, DESCO will implement, operate, and maintain the system on a 9,105-square-foot rooftop area. The 20-year project involves an installation cost of around Tk 8.9 million, with an additional Tk 8.7 million earmarked for maintenance and replacement during the project’s lifespan.

the solar system is expected to generate about 2.85 million kilowatt-hours of electricity over 20 years, worth approximately Tk 29.9 million.

Omera Renewable will generate 6MW of solar power within the next six months by using the unused spaces of the Padma Bridge service areas. An agreement on this was signed between Bangladesh Bridge Authority and Omera Renewable Energy Ltd recently.

according to a media statement, Bridge Authority Chief Engineer Quazi Ferdous and Omera Renewable Energy CEO Masudur Rahman signed the contract.

the statement said the contract was signed under the directives of Fouzul Kabir Khan, advisor to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry.

at his instruction, an IDCOL team carried out a feasibility study on the potential for rooftop solar power generation at the Padma Bridge service areas.

the study report found that Service Area-1 has the capacity to generate 1,966KW, Service Area-2 2,948KW, and Service Area-3 around 1,119KW, making a total of 6,033KW.

the contract with Omera Renewable is worth Tk 230 million.

the project is scheduled to be completed within six months, by Mar 14, 2026.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has said the interim government is importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from various sources, not from a single country, by comparing international prices and assessing demand. ‘No, we are not importing LNG from a single source. We verify the international market. We are comparing all the markets, be it America, Saudi Arabia, China, or Singapore.

it is not that easy to just give it to the US,’ he told reporters on 16 September. Dr Salehuddin was speaking after chairing meetings of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs and the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat.

asked about the outcomes of the current visit of the USTR delegation to Bangladesh, he said the issue lies with the Commerce Ministry, especially as emphasis is being given to minimizing the existing trade gap between Bangladesh and the USA by importing more items from the USA.