Category: Energy and Power

The government has ordered the deployment of mobile courts across the country to prevent illegal hoarding, overpricing, and smuggling of fuel amid supply concerns triggered by the Middle East con?ict.

the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources recently wrote to the Cabinet Division, asking for instructions to be issued to district administrators (DCs) to initiate ?eld-level monitoring.

the move follows media reports of unscrupulous traders creating an ‘arti?cial crisis by stockpiling fuel’. While the government has already set per-vehicle sale limits to manage reserves, authorities have noted several ?lling stations selling fuel above regulated prices or diverting supplies to the black market. Senior Assistant Secretary Enamul Hoque signed the letter, emphasizing that these measures are essential to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply. Following the directive, executive magistrates have already begun conducting drives at different petrol pumps in the capital

Both companies have pledged to prioritize production for domestic needs to offset risks to oil imports from the Middle East. PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. (PTTEP) says it is monitoring closely the developing situation in the Middle East and has evacuated personnel from high-risk areas.

the company stressed that it does have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for managing business operations during periods of uncertainty.

all its petroleum exploration and production operations in the UAE and Oman are currently continuing without interruption. In Thailand, PTTEP has taken steps to support the Ministry of Energy’s policy of maintaining continuity of domestic petroleum supply and ensuring national energy security.

these measures include maximizing natural gas production in the Gulf of Thailand and adjusting schedules for planned maintenance shutdowns to mitigate potential impacts on industry and domestic users.

Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood recently said Bangladesh has no alternative but to use its existing fuel resources in a cost-effective manner due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. ‘Our only option is to use the fuel we have in hand in a sparing manner until supply system stabilizes,’ he told reporters at Secretariat after a meeting with Paul Kapur, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.

the minister said discussions were held on how to manage the available energy resources ef?ciently amid the global uncertainty. He urged people to be economical in using electricity and fuel by limiting the use of private vehicles and avoiding unnecessary illumination and decorative lighting.

As Bangladesh gradually moves toward clean and sustainable energy, the transition is about more than reducing carbon emissions.

it also offers opportunities for job creation, economic growth, and building a more inclusive society. For this transition to succeed, women must play a central role. Women already play a key role in managing household energy-making daily decisions about cooking fuels, electricity use, and energy conservation. When energy prices rise or shortages occur, women are often the ?rst to feel the impact. Yet in the renewable energy sector, their role largely remains limited to being users rather than designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, or decision-makers. Globally, women represent only about 32 percent of the renewable energy workforce, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

their presence in technical and leadership roles is even lower. Bangladesh, despite progress in expanding its energy sector, still struggles to ensure meaningful participation of women.

the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) reports that renewable energy currently contributes about 5.4 percent of Bangladesh’s total electricity generation. However, the country has made notable progress in solar energy.

around six million solar home systems have been installed, providing electricity to more than 18 million people. Not involving women more actively in such a rapidly growing sector represents a missed economic opportunity, particularly as Bangladesh seeks to balance development goals with climate commitments.

experiences from other countries offer useful lessons.

in Nepal, government-backed renewable energy programs have helped women become entrepreneurs in solar and micro-hydro power.

in India, womenled self-help groups now install and maintain solar pumps for irrigation, earning income and gaining respect in their communities.

in Germany, the Energiewende energy transition initiative has encouraged more young women to pursue careers in renewable energy research and engineering. These examples show that with strong policies and investment in training, meaningful change is possible. For Bangladesh, the ?rst step is capacity building. More young women should be encouraged to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Scholarships, internships, and partnerships between universities and renewable energy companies can help connect education with employment opportunities.

In the wake of the con?ict across the Middle East following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities concerned to procure the necessary lique?ed natural gas (LNG) from the spot market.

as per the PM’s instructions, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has taken the initiative to purchase at least four LNG cargoes from the spot market during March, sources in the division said on 3 March.

according to the sources, amid the escalating con?ict in the Middle East, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division briefed the PM today regarding the overall energy situation in both the public and private sectors.

Estimates indicate Japan added between 5.8 GW and 6 GW of solar last year, likely taking the country past 100 GW of cumulative solar capacity. Last year’s installations were led by the commercial and industrial market, while the residential sector also saw increased demand. Japan added between 5.8 GW and 6 GW of solar last year, according to estimates provided by Tokyo-based solar consultancy RTS Corp.

the estimation indicates Japan’s cumulative solar capacity may now be ?rmly past the 100 GW threshold. According to data available on the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme’s (IEA-PVPS) website, Japan reached approximately 100 GW of solar at the end of 2024, after adding 5.5 GW of solar in 2024 and 6.2 GW in 2023.

izumi Kaizuka, RTS Corp principal analyst and director of the company’s business development division, told pv magazine that last year’s deployment ?gures comprise an estimated 1.6 GW of residential solar, 2 GW in the commercial and industrial (CandI) segment and 2.2 GW of utilityscale installations of 1 MW or larger.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reduced the use of lights and airconditioners at his of?ce room in Bangladesh Secretariat in half in a bid to save electricity. The premier also urged all ministries and institutions to maintain austerity in consuming electricity. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said that the Prime Minister took these steps after arriving at his of?ce at the Secretariat recently. ‘Prime Minister arrived at his of?ce at 9:10 am and immediately switched off 50 percent of the lights in his room and set the air conditioning temperature to 25.1 degrees,’ he said, noting that maintaining the AC at this level helps reduce electricity consumption. Not only in his own of?ce, the Prime Minister also instructed of?cials concerned to turn off half of the lights and raise the AC temperature in the Cabinet meeting room after entering the chamber for a cabinet meeting, Ruman said.

Climate change adaptation in the Barind area has become an urgent need as the adverse impact of climate change has been posing a serious threat to the living and livelihood conditions of the people, particularly the marginalized ones. Barind region has long suffered from recurrent droughts and acute water scarcity.

the area has a signi?cant Indigenous population, with most families dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods.

experts and professional leaders made the remarks while addressing an advocacy meeting recently, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to protect the region from adverse impact.

association for Community Development (ACD) organized the meeting titled ‘Climate Change: Adaptation Initiatives’ at Hotel Warisan in the city. The event was held under the ‘Cultivating Change’ project with support from Oxfam in Bangladesh.

the meeting highlighted the realities, inequalities, and capacity development needs of indigenous women agricultural workers in the drought-prone and waterscarce Barind region.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has set off a panic buying of fuel in Bangladesh, nearly 4,000 kilometers away from the eye of the storm.

it has hardly been surprising. Bangladesh depends heavily on the imports of fuel oil and gas from the Gulf countries, which are now at the center of the con?icts.

iran’s retaliatory missile attacks have shut down oil facilities in many of the Gulf nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. The war entered its second week on March 10, and until that day, the prices of fuel oil jumped over 100 dollars a barrel.

the concerns have been manifold: disruptions in production, transportation, and shipping lines.

the new BNP government, which took of?ce just three weeks ago, winning a massive public mandate, has taken some prompt actions.

in emergency measures, the government has set caps on the supply of fuel -diesel, petrol, and octane – to vehicles and closed down ?ve of the six major urea fertilizer factories to conserve the use of natural gas. Besides urging austerity and patience, the authorities have repeatedly assured that there is no scarcity in the supply of fuel.

there are stocks in the depot and fuel-loaded ships travelling to Bangladesh. Con?dent about the stocks, the government has decided not to raise the fuel prices for now. Yet panic purchase has gripped the country’s 4000 fuel stations, especially the 80 located in the capital city. Motorists have formed long lines before the petrol pumps, pushing up demand amid disrupted supply. Many are buying more than they need amid a tendency to hoard.

irrational buyers are paying little heed to government assurances. The unusual spike in demand amid reduced supply is drying up the petrol pumps, forcing the closure of sales. Tensions have thus gripped the ?lling stations. Scuf?es and altercations have been reported in some places.

in order to boost imports of fuel, Bangladesh has turned to its neighbor, India.

in response to Dhaka’s request, India has started pumping diesel into the 131-kilometre Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline that brings the fuel from Numaligarh re?nery in Assam to Parbatipur oil depot in Bangladesh’s Dinajpur district.

this has been a welcome move as Dhaka and New Delhi are resetting their relations, overcoming the bad feelings caused by the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024.

up to 5,000 metric tonnes of diesel were expected to ?ow through the pipeline by March 11. Bangladesh is to receive 180,000 metric tonnes of diesel annually through this pipeline, which was inaugurated in March 2023.

it has a capacity to supply 200,000 metric tonnes of diesel a year. Meanwhile, Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has geared up the unloading of fuel on a priority basis.

as ships carrying LPG and LNG from Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are arriving at the outer anchorage, berthing the ships at the port is being given emergency treatment. Vessels carrying diesel and furnace oil from Malaysia and Singapore are there to further ease the supply issue.

these imports have been done both under the private and public sectors. So the bottom line here is that there should not be any fear about the supply. Panic buying is what has been causing the chaos at the ?lling stations since the start of the Middle East war.

the current comfortable supply situation should not lead to relaxing vigilance, as the situation in the Middle East still remains volatile and unpredictable.

though President Trump says the war will be over ‘very soon,’ few can trust him.

iran’s new leadership has warned that if the war ends, it will be on their term not on the choices of Israel and the US. So, the Bangladesh government must continue with emergency measures to avert worsening the situation

The government has announced a series of measures to tackle the global energy crisis amid the ongoing con?ict in the Middle East.

in a statement, the Cabinet Division said that addressing the current global crisis requires saving electricity and energy at the national level.

of?cials and employees in all of?ces, including government, autonomous, statutory bodies, and corporations, are urged to use electricity and energy responsibly and economically.

the statement outlined measures, included Making use of natural daylight by keeping windows, doors, or blinds open and avoid using electric lights when suf?cient natural light is available.

other measures are reducing existing lighting by half and avoid using extra lights; turning off unnecessary lights, fans, air conditioners, and other electrical appliances during of?ce hours; maintaining air conditioner temperatures at 25 degrees Celsius or above.