Bangladesh pushes solar to tackle energy woes

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s caretaker leader has ordered all government institutions, including ministry buildings and schools, to install solar panels to ease chronic power problems in a country regularly hit by deadly heatwaves.

The South Asian nation of 170 million people has set itself a target of generating 20% of its power from renewable energy by 2030—a fourfold increase—and rising to 30% by 2040, the government said in a statement.

‘Bangladesh is lagging far behind its neighbouring countries,’ the statement issued by the office of interim leader Muhammad Yunus read. ‘Only 5.6% of our total requirement is currently met from renewable sources,’ it added, noting that in neighbouring India it is 24% and in Sri Lanka nearly 40%.

The government’s rooftop solar programme will see all government offices, schools, colleges and hospitals fitted with panels immediately, the statement said. The microfinance pioneer said the panels would be installed and operated by private-sector companies, unlike the largely failed push by since-ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to install panels using government power agencies.

‘The private sector will handle overall maintenance and keep the systems operational for their own business interests,’ the statement said. ‘The government will only provide them with rooftop access.’

The government has also initiated tender processes for 55 solar power plants with a capacity of 5,238 megawatts.

Bangladesh relies heavily on importing cross-border power from neighbouring India, as well as from Nepal, especially when demand soars during the blistering heat and consumers depend on energy-hungry air conditioners.

Dhaka also began construction of the Russia-backed nuclear plant at Rooppur in 2017. The much-delayed 2,400-megawatt project will be Bangladesh’s largest power station by generating capacity once fully operational.

By RSS/AFP