Category: Energy and Power

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) hosted the Just Energy Transition Conference 2026 on February 1 at the Military Museum in Dhaka.

The national-level conference, themed ‘Voices for a GenderResponsive Energy Future,’ focused on the social dimensions of energy transition, including equity, inclusion, and justice, alongside technology and fi nance, with an emphasis on turning grassroots realities into policy and investment recommendations. Delivering the welcome remarks, Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of MJF, said the organization has worked for service access at the grassroots for 23 years, and warned that climate vulnerability disproportionately affects women and persons with disabilities.

A renewable transition, she said, must respond to these realities, particularly in areas such as household cooking where women face long hours and serious health risks. ‘So, energy will be clean, it will be green, and it will be for the people’s welfare,’ she said, urging that renewable energy remain a priority regardless of who forms the next government.

The BNP’s overwhelming electoral victory offers political stability at a time when Bangladesh’s power and energy sector stands on fragile ground. Yet a strong mandate alone will not keep the lights on.

The new government inherits a system burdened by rising import dependence, declining domestic gas production, growing arrears, and subsidy pressures that strain the national budget.

Installed generation capacity may exceed demand on paper, but fuel shortages, unpaid bills, and infrastructure bottlenecks threaten real-world supply, especially during Ramadan and the summer peak.

Short-term fi refi ghting will be unavoidable. Clearing arrears, securing foreign currency for imports, and ensuring uninterrupted LNG and coal supply are immediate priorities.

But the real test lies in reform. Domestic gas exploration must accelerate, Production Sharing Contracts must be fi nalized, LNG infrastructure decisions must be revisited, and renewable expansion must be placed on a realistic but urgent footing.

Subsidy reduction cannot rely solely on tariff hikes in an already high-cost environment.

Instead, supply costs must fall through better fuel mix decisions, phasing out expensive oil-based generation, and maximizing lower-cost alternatives. Perhaps most critically, investor confi dence must be restored. Policy reversals and uncertainty have shaken trust.

Stability and predictability will determine whether new capital fl ows into the sector.

The government’s promise to create 15 million jobs depends fundamentally on reliable, competitively priced energy.

Economic growth cannot occur in the dark.

If the new administration succeeds in stabilizing and reforming the energy sector, it will lay the foundation for broader national progress.

ICIMOD Director General Dr Pema Gyamtsho said recently that by focusing on the knowledge, leadership and priorities of women and indigenous people in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, they are not only boosting climate resilience but also giving more power to those who have long protected mountain ecosystems. ‘As implementation begins, I am reminded that meaningful climate action is not only about technologies or policies, but about people, equity, and dignity,’ he said, refl ecting not only on what the ICIMOD has achieved but also on what this year has meant to him personally.

By working closely with national partners in all three countries, HI-CAS is laying the foundation for integrated, ecosystem-based adaptation solutions that respond to local realities and ensure that those most affected by climate change are at the center of adaptation planning and action, Dr Pema said. ‘What gives me confi dence is HI-CAS’s clear focus on locally led, genderresponsive adaptation,’ he said in a message.

In 2025, ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) began implementation of the Integrated Climate Adaptation Solutions for the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region (HI-CAS) project.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) recently adjusted the price of Liquefi ed Petroleum Gas (LPG) upward and now a 12 kilogram (Kg) LPG cylinder will be sold to the consumers at Tk 1,356 instead of Tk 1,306. ‘The newly fi xed price of LPG is Taka1,356, which will be effective at 6pm (February 2) and all licenses of LPG marketing companies will implement the price,’ BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed said recently.

He said the prices of all the 13 different sizes of LPGfi lled cylinders have been adjusted for February.

The BERC also re-fi xed auto gas price at Taka 62.14 per liter for February, which was Taka 59.80 in January and Taka 57.32 in December.

As per the BERC announcement, new price at retailer level owned by private sector, 12.5 kg LPG has been re-fi xed at Taka1,413, 15 kg at Taka1,696, 16 kg at Taka1,809, 18 kg at Taka2,035, 20 kg at Taka 2,260, 22 kg at Taka 2,487, 25 kg at Taka 2,826, 30 kg at Taka 3,391, 33 kg at Taka 3,731, 35 kg at Taka 3,956 and 45 kg at Taka 5,087.

Bangladesh has appointed a British law fi rm to represent the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) in mediation proceedings at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre against Adani Power Limited, a signifi cant step in the longrunning dispute over coal pricing and power tariffs. Confi rming the development, BPDB offi cials said that the nominees’ names had already been submitted to SIAC on behalf of the state utility. Power Division offi cials said the appointed fi rm is 3 Verulam Building, a UK-based law chambers headed by King’s Counsel Farhaz Khan, who has been advising the National Review Committee for several months.

To support the King’s Counsel, BPDB has also appointed two local experts, one from the power sector and another a Supreme Court lawyer, offi cials added.

In a separate development, an international arbitration has ordered Canadian energy company Niko Resources to pay $42 million in compensation to Bangladesh over the Chhatak gas fi eld blowouts in 2005.

The power division is taking an initiative without issuing a solicited work order despite the High Court ruling on supply of coal to Patuakhali’sRNPL (RPCLNORINCO) through Direct Purchase Method (DPM). Despite Yangthai Energy being deemed fi nancially and technically qualifi ed in the fourth round of the Open Tender Process (OTM) tender for supply of coal to the power plant, the power department is taking this initiative without issuing a solicited work order.

However, the Singaporebased company has fi led a writ petition in the High Court and obtained a verdict in its favor.

There has been widespread criticism in the relevant circles about the purchase of coal through the DPM, ignoring the verdict. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Advisor Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan said, ‘We have to run the power plant.

A Singapore-based company has obtained a court ruling.

I know.’

Countries recently elected Chile’s COP climate summit chief negotiator to drive forward stalled talks on striking a landmark global treaty tackling the scourge of plastic pollution. Career diplomat Julio Cordano was elected by countries meeting in Geneva following a drawn-out battle. ‘Plastic pollution is a planetary problem that affects everyone: every country, every community and every individual,’ he said after being elected. ‘A treaty is urgently needed.’ More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is for single-use items.

The plastic pollution problem is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks and in the oceans’ deepest trench.

Supposedly fi nal talks in South Korea in 2024 towards a treaty to address the problem ended without a deal — and a resumed effort in Geneva last August likewise collapsed.

The government has reshuffl ed the leadership of two key stateowned energy c o r p o ra t i o n s , appointing Md Erfanul Haque as chairman of Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) and Md Rezanur Rahman as chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

The appointments were confi rmed in a notifi cation signed recently by Joint Secretary Abul Hayat Md Rafi que of the public administration ministry’s deputation-1 wing.

The order said the postings would take immediate effect in the public interest.

The reshuffl e follows a series of rapid changes at BPC. On Jan 29, then chairman Md Amin Ul Ahsan was made an offi cer on special duty (OSD).

Three days later, on Feb 1, Additional Secretary Md Rafi qul Alam was given charge of the post as an additional responsibility. Within 24 hours, however, a fresh order appointed Rezanur Rahman as BPC chairman.

The Asia-Pacifi c (APAC) smart meter market is experiencing massive growth, driven by grid modernization, with the region accounting for nearly 60% of the global installed base by late 2023. Major growth factors include reducing energy theft, enhancing effi ciency, and supporting smart grid infrastructure, with smart electric meters dominating the segment.

According to recent data from Astute Analytica, the Asia Pacifi c smart meters market is projected to offer a revenue opportunity of US$ 42,104.8 Mn during the forecast period 2023-2031 and is estimated to reach US$ 53,596.9 Mn by 2031 at a CAGR of 20.1%. Governments across the Asia Pacifi c region are placing strong emphasis on promoting renewable energy sources and enhancing the effi ciency of energy distribution to households.

Rosatom will cooperate with Kyrgyzstan on the introduction of additive manufacturing technologies in the republic’s renewable energy sector.

This cooperation involves the production of equipment for new and existing hydropower facilities using 3D printing technologies.

It will be implemented in various formats, from joint preparation of pre-design and design documentation to delivery of equipment and its components to the relevant customers. Under the cooperation, a hydropower project offi ce has been opened at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU) campus.

At the fi rst stage, the offi ce, organized with the participation of Rosatom, will focus on the development of feasibility studies and project documentation for small and medium-sized hydropower plants.

The offi ce will serve as a training unit, as well as an intellectual hub and an international-level model platform.