Category: Energy and Power

Christian Mumssen, director of strategy for the International Monetary Fund, said he believed offsetting forces that had prevented the war in West Asia from hitting global growth harder thus far would remain in effect, but a very long disruption to energy supplies would clearly affect the outlook.

Mumssen, asked if the resumption of hostilities between the United States and Iran would force the IMF to revise its estimate of 3 percent global growth in 2026, said it was very diffi cult to say where the global lender’s October forecast would land.

‘Internally, we will have to continue to think in scenarios.

And for some countries, the question of energy prices …

is, of course, extremely important,’ he said.

Bangladesh and Russia have reaffi rmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a particular focus on expanding cooperation in the energy sector and other areas of mutual interest.

The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr.

Khalilur Rahman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of an international event in Manila, the Philippines recently, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr.

Khalilur Rahman led the Bangladesh delegation, accompanied by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, while Sergey Lavrov headed the Russian delegation.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers reviewed the existing BangladeshRussia partnership, placing special emphasis on enhancing collaboratio

Chaired by COP31 President-Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, senior climate and environment offi cials from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Trkiye convened in Istanbul.

Addressing the D-8 COP31 Meeting- held for the fi rst time on the margins of a Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Minister Kurum stressed that climate change is a global crisis affecting economic development, cities, food security, energy systems, and communities.

Highlighting that host nation Trkiye places environmental stewardship, urban development, and climate action at the heart of its sustainable growth strategy, Kurum remarked: ‘We are fully prepared to leverage the COP31 platform to share our experience with all parties- from post-disaster rebuilding and the Zero Waste Movement to resilient cities, energy effi ciency, the circular economy, sustainable infrastructure, and green tech.’ Director of Climate Change Prof.

Halil Hasar also attended the summit.

Reiterating that Trkiye’s roadmap for COP31 is built on three core pillars- Dialogue, Consensus, and Action- Minister Kurum outlined the 10 priority action areas designed to deliver a true ‘COP of the Future.’ Minister Kurum listed the key global targets for 2035: ‘We have set ambitious global goals, including boosting global electrifi cation to 35%, cutting the growth rate of waste generation in half, slashing energy intensity in buildings by at least 25%, and raising the use of circular materials in manufacturing to at least 15%.

We are also committing to ensuring every child and young person receives quality education on climate change and climate-resilient agriculture, alongside driving climate fi nance to the frontlines faster, more effectively, and more inclusively.

Every single one of these targets feeds into our shared vision of making our cities safer, our economies more competitive, our communities more resilient, and our future generations stronger.’

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that the escalating confl ict in the Middle East continues to pose signifi cant risks to global energy security, despite emergency measures and alternative supply routes helping to stabilize oil and gas markets.

In a statement, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the worsening security situation around the Strait of Hormuz and threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have heightened concerns over global energy supplies and increased uncertainty in oil markets.

Birol noted that crude oil markets have so far been cushioned by continued exports from Gulf producers, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have redirected shipments through alternative routes while maintaining some exports via the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has proposed major regulatory changes to speed up domestic gas exploration and production, aiming to reduce Bangladesh’s growing reliance on imported liquefi ed natural gas (LNG).

In separate letters to the Planning Ministry, Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood sought exemptions from mandatory third-party feasibility studies for selected gas projects and proposed allowing self-fi nanced exploration projects to be approved by the Energy Ministry instead of the Planning Commission and ECNEC.

The ministry plans to drill 117 wells under 27 projects over the next fi ve years, targeting an additional 1,535 MMCFD of gas supply by 2031.

It argues that faster approvals would accelerate implementation, lower dependence on LNG imports and save valuable foreign exchange.

DHL Group and LONGi Solar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration on renewable energy deployment and lower-emission logistics solutions, combining advanced solar technologies with sustainable supply chain innovation.

The agreement establishes a strategic partnership to accelerate the installation of distributed solar systems, including LONGi’s latest Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) technology, across DHL facilities in Europe.

The initiative is aimed at increasing the use of clean energy while supporting DHL’s longterm decarbonization strategy and LONGi’s global mission to advance sustainable energy solutions.

The high-effi ciency solar systems are based on LONGi’s back-contact technology, designed to maximize electricity generation on large commercial rooftops while ensuring long-term operational reliability.

The MoU also expands the companies’ existing logistics partnership.

DHL currently provides Express, Global Forwarding Ocean Freight and Industrial Projects services for LONGi.

Under the new agreement, DHL will broaden its support to include logistics solutions for LONGi’s rapidly growing solar and battery energy storage businesses, enhanced business-to-consumer (B2C) logistics, marketing fulfi llment services and customized supply chain solutions for battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, MP, has issued a stern warning that wood must not be used as fuel in brick kilns under any circumstances.

He also emphasized the need to reduce pollution through the adoption of cleaner and modern technologies rather than shutting down the brickmaking industry.

The minister made the remarks at a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Bricks Manufacturing Owners Association (BBMOA) held at the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Bangladesh Secretariat recently.

The meeting focused on the environmental impacts of brick kilns, air quality management, and measures to control pollution.

Mintoo said that although a complete alternative to conventional bricks has yet to be developed, the priority should be to minimize pollution from brick kilns by introducing advanced and environmentally friendly technologies instead of closing the industry

The Bangladesh government is preparing a comprehensive policy to regulate the operation of battery-powered rickshaws and e-bikes across the country in an effort to reduce traffi c congestion, improve road safety and ensure orderly urban transport.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam disclosed the plan while responding to a question in Parliament recently.

The minister said the government is examining various options for the effective management of battery-operated vehicles as part of its broader initiative to develop a modern multimodal transport system, particularly in Dhaka.

He noted that the regulation of these vehicles currently falls mainly under the jurisdiction of city corporations and traffi c authorities.

However, the government is working on a unifi ed policy that will provide clear guidelines for the operation, management and control of batterypowered rickshaws and e-bikes nationwide.

The government has made energy security its top economic priority, pledging to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies for industries as part of a broader strategy to reduce business costs, improve competitiveness and attract investment.

Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister and offi cial spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Offi ce (PMO), made the remarks while addressing the BAYLA Future Summit 2026, organized by the Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Alliance (BAYLA) in the capital recently.

‘We now have to place the highest priority on energy security.

Many industries are still facing gas and electricity shortages.

We are working on the issue and, within a practical timeframe, are committed to resolving these problems,’ he said.

He said Bangladesh has three major advantages for attracting investment: a large young workforce, a sizeable domestic market and a democratic government capable of ensuring policy continuity and national stability

Southeast Asia has overtaken the United States and several major European markets in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, driven by strong government policies, energy security concerns and growing investment in clean transportation, according to a report by clean energy think tank Ember Energy.

The report found that Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia now rank among the world’s leading EV markets by share of new vehicle sales.

In both Singapore and Vietnam, electric vehicles accounted for 40 percent of new vehicle sales in 2025, compared with less than six percent in the United States.

Analysts said the region’s rapid transition is being supported by incentives, tax breaks and ambitious policies aimed at reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while achieving net-zero emission targets.