Category: Energy and Power

South Asia, with its dense population, rising temperatures and exposed geography, remains one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions – and Bangladesh is among the hardest hit. By 2030, nearly 90 per cent of the region’s population will face extreme heat, while close to one-quarter will be at risk of severe flooding. Rising water and soil salinity in coastal districts is already disrupting millions of lives in Bangladesh.

a new World Bank (WB) report, From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia, finds that households and private firms are bearing the bulk of climate adaptation costs. Awareness of climate risks is high: more than three-quarters of households and firms expect a major weather shock within the next decade. Some 63 per cent of firms and 80 per cent of households have taken steps to adapt, but most rely on basic, low-cost measures rather than advanced technologies or public infrastructure. But with governments facing tight fiscal constraints, the report stresses the need to enable far greater privatesector adaptation through comprehensive policy support

All gas well drilling under Petrobangla has been suspended for 48 hours as a precaution amid heightened earthquake risk, officials said recently.

the decision was taken on the instruction of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Petrobangla confirmed. Drilling, exploration and workover operations ongoing as of 8am on November 25 have been ordered to stop. Petrobangla said the suspension aims to prevent potential damage to drilling and seismic survey equipment, and to ensure the safety of workers and the public. ‘It is dangerous to continue drilling during earthquake stress,’ said Shamsunnahar, General Manager (Environment and Safety) of Petrobangla’s Operations and Mines Directorate. ‘So, all drilling activities will remain suspended during this risky 48-hour window.’

After reporting its highest-ever annual profit in FY25, United Power Generation and Distribution Company’s firstquarter profit plunged 30 percent yearon-year to Tk 2.92 billion in the three months to September, due to lower revenue and higher production costs.

the power generation company’s consolidated earnings per share (EPS) came down to Tk 4.94 in the JulySeptember quarter this year from Tk 7.13 in the same quarter of the previous year, according to its audited financial statements published recently.

the company said in its earnings note that last year it recognized additional revenue – called supplemental revenue – stemming from a bulk electricity tariff adjustment linked to earlier gas price hikes, but this revenue did not recur this quarter.

as a result, the consolidated and separate earnings per share for Q1 of FY26 reflect only normal operating revenue, leading to a comparative decrease in profit, said the company.

Roadside fuel sales will remain suspended for the time being to prevent any untoward incidents using such fuel, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said recently. ‘The decision was taken to prevent any misuse of fuel sold on the streets,’ Jahangir said after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on law and order. ‘Selling fuel beside the road will remain suspended for now since many untoward incidents have occurred using fuel.’ The move comes amid a rise in arson attacks on vehicles.

three buses and a private car were set on fire at different locations across Dhaka recently. In a separate incident, a driver was burnt to death after miscreants torched a parked bus in Mymensingh’s Phulbaria upazila.

Speakers at a recent program in Moulvibazar urged the government to take steps to use barren land instead of using haor land for installing solar power plants in the district.

they made the call at a roundtable held in the conference room of Moulvibazar deputy commissioner office, protesting against the initiative of installing solar power plant projects at Kawadighi, Hail Haor and Athangiri Puber Haor in the district.

they demand protection of the haor environment. Haor Raksha Andolan, Moulvibazar, a platform of environmental activists, arranged the event.

the discussants at the program said that the recent incidents of purchasing and selling of agricultural land in Kawadighi, Hail Haor and Athangiri Puber Haor and the initiative to set up solar power projects there raised concerns among the local residents.

they said that the work of a 10-megawatt solar power plant had already been completed at Athangiri Puber Haor and the efforts to set up a 25MW solar power plant in the same haor was under way.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is set to carry out a full audit of the power import deal with India’s Adani Group, alongside its ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the contract.

a new three-member committee has been formed to examine both the audit and the inquiry.

the team is led by ACC Deputy Director Al Amin, with Deputy Director Muhammad Zainul Abedin and Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan as members.

the national anti-graft agency’s spokesperson Md Akhtarul Islam confirmed the formation of the committee. During the tenure of the now-ousted Awami League government, Adani Group reportedly benefited from duty and tax exemptions, resulting in alleged revenue losses amounting to Tk 45 billion.

an earlier ACC team had already been investigating the claims.

Aligning with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), country’s superbrand and tech-giant Walton has emphasized on initiating sustainable green and renewable energy initiatives.

as a part of its green initiatives, Walton installed one megawatt capacity’s country’s largest floating solar power plant at its headquarters at Chandra in Gazipur, says a press release. Walton has marked a new milestone for a greener tomorrow through sustainable and renewable energy in the country’s industrial sector. Mostafizur Rahman Razu, head of Walton’s Environment, Health and Safety Department, said, Walton’s floating solar power plant has set an example in ensuring sustainable industrial development.

through implementing floating solar project, Walton is not only generating electricity but also marking a remarkable contribution in fish farming, land conservation, reduced water evaporation and environment protection.

after the electricity consumption at Walton factory, the excess electricity generated from floating solar plant are added to the national grid through net metering system.

With under one year until the 27th World Energy Congress, the World Energy Council is pleased to announce that Dr Naif Alabbadi has been elected to the Council’s Board as the Chair for World Energy Congress 2026. Dr Alabbadi is a senior representative in the Saudi Ministry of Energy, currently serving as Advisor for Electricity Affairs to the Minister of Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud. With more than 30 years of expertise in the energy sector and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa, Dr. Alabbadi, in his capacity as Chair, will represent the World Energy Council and the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia as co-hosts of this milestone global event.

taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 12-15 October 2026, World Energy Congress 2026 will bring together over 18,000 international leaders, CEOs and innovators and more than 100 ministers to bridge geographies and generations, sectors and societies, in what is the only truly global energy event in the world, with a focus on accelerating practical solutions for a future of more secure, sustainable and equitable energy for all.

Power Grid has shown signs of recovery, with year-on-year losses falling by as much as 54 per cent to Tk 2.10 billion in FY25, supported by higher revenue and favorable foreign exchange rates. Consequently, the power transmission company cut its losses to Tk 2.30 per share in FY25, compared to a loss of Tk 6.69 (restated) per share in the previous year, according to price-sensitive information published recently.

the board of directors, however, declared no dividend for the year as retained earnings remained negative. Favorable foreign exchange rates, due to relative stability in the forex market over the previous year, helped the company narrow its losses, said Power Grid in its earnings note. Foreign exchange fluctuations had previously caused substantial losses for the company. Power Grid has a significant amount of foreign loans taken for various development projects, which must be repaid in US dollars.

the profit or loss has been calculated based on the exchange rates of the US dollar and the euro on the last day of the quarter or financial year.

although Power Grid’s term loans rose 10 per cent yearon-year to Tk 548 billion, its long-term interest-bearing debts fell by 50 per cent to Tk 3.48 billion in the nine months through March this year

China’s stateowned oil- and gas-explorationcompany Sinopec is poised to secure a contract to drill five new gas wells on gasrich Bhola island, as Bangladesh moves to ramp up domestic production of the fuel amid mounting energy demand. Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX), a subsidiary of Petrobangla, has selected the company following competitive bidding, and the official signing is expected soon, a senior Petrobangla official said.

under the agreement, Sinopec will carry out drilling works worth around Tk 11 billion, to be completed within 600 days of signing.

the project includes four development wells — Shahbazpur-5, Shahbazpur-7, Bhola North-3, and Bhola North-4 — and one exploratory well, Shahbazpur North-East-1. These wells will be drilled to depths of 3,500-3,600 meters, according to project documents.

the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved the fivewell-drilling initiative as part of the government’s broader effort to boost local gas output and meet rising national energy demand.