[🇧🇩] Energy Security of Bangladesh

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Dr Zubaida Rahman for transforming waste into energy, source of growth

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s spouse and eminent physician Dr Zubaida Rahman on Wednesday stressed transforming waste into resources, sources of energy and opportunities for economic growth. “Waste should not be allowed to go to waste without being put to any use. Rather, it must be

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Dr Zubaida Rahman for transforming waste into energy, source of growth

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s spouse and eminent physician Dr Zubaida Rahman on Wednesday stressed transforming waste into resources, sources of energy and opportunities for economic growth.

“Waste should not be allowed to go to waste without being put to any use. Rather, it must be transformed into resources, sources of energy and opportunities for economic growth,” she told a high-level meeting of spouses of heads of state and government held on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) there.

Dr Zubaida said: “Let us turn waste into resources, pollution into solutions, and commitments into concrete actions,”

Expressing her sincere gratitude to Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdogan for hosting the meeting, she said Emine’s leadership in advancing the zero-waste agenda was truly inspiring.

She said Bangladesh strongly welcomes and supports the Global Zero Waste Alliance. The objectives of the alliance are fully aligned with the Bangladesh government’s vision of building a clean environment, a healthy population and a sustainable future, she mentioned.

Dr Zubaida said the Bangladesh government is encouraging waste reduction, reuse and recycling (the 3Rs).

At the same time, she said, waste segregation and safe disposal systems were being strengthened under the Solid Waste Management Rules.

She noted that under Bangladesh’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), the country has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector by 1.78 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035.

Highlighting the government's priority initiatives, she said emphasis was being placed on recycling, composting, landfill gas recovery, waste-to-energy generation, wastewater treatment, and the safe management of waste from medical and healthcare facilities.

Referring to an initiative to implement a large-scale waste-to-energy project in Dhaka, she said the project would process 3,000 tonnes of household waste daily to generate 42.5 megawatts of electricity.

She added that there were plans to expand similar projects to other major cities across Bangladesh.

She said the government's key objective was to convert urban waste into clean energy while protecting the environment.

At the same time, initiatives to clean the country's lakes, canals, ponds and other water bodies were continuing to reduce plastic pollution, she said.

Emphasising the promotion of jute products as an alternative to plastic, Rahman said Bangladesh's golden fibre, jute, was a natural alternative to plastic. She added that efforts were underway to expand the use of jute-based products.

She also invited the delegates attending the conference to visit the Bangladesh Jute Pavilion, located in the Green Zone of the conference venue.

Noting that Bangladesh, as a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, was committed to reducing methane emissions, she said the government was encouraging climate-friendly agriculture and improved rice cultivation practices. Initiatives had also been undertaken to produce organic fertiliser and clean energy from organic waste.

Highlighting the importance of international cooperation in building a zero-waste world, she said the goal could not be achieved through individual efforts alone. Affordable climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building were essential to achieving this objective, she said.

She further stressed the need for strong private-sector participation and ensuring adequate protection for informal waste management workers.

Calling for the engagement of the younger generation in the movement, she said environmental awareness must begin at home, in educational institutions and in society.

“Young people were not only the leaders of tomorrow but also important partners in addressing today's challenges,” she added.

Dr Zubaida said Bangladesh was fully prepared to further strengthen global cooperation and translate collective commitments into action.​

 

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Govt targets 10,000MW solar power generation in 5 years: Minister

The government has undertaken various initiatives to accelerate solar power generation as it targets generating 10,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power during its first five years in office as part of its plan to meet 20 percent of the country’s electricity demand from solar energy, said Power,

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Govt targets 10,000MW solar power generation in 5 years: Minister

The government has undertaken various initiatives to accelerate solar power generation as it targets generating 10,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power during its first five years in office as part of its plan to meet 20 percent of the country’s electricity demand from solar energy, said Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Wednesday.

“We pledged in our election manifesto to generate 30 percent of the country’s electricity from solar power. Accordingly, we have set a target of generating 10,000MW from solar power during the first five years,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while responding to a call attention notice on matters of urgent public importance under Rule-71 of the Rules of Procedure placed by ruling party lawmaker Shacot Ara Akter from reserved women’s seat-33 in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Iqbal said the government had formulated a policy within two to three months and prepared the relevant legislation through a Cabinet decision before placing it in Parliament.

The minister said the government has undertaken various initiatives to accelerate solar power generation, attract private investment and raise public awareness about rooftop solar systems.

As part of the campaign, the government has recently organised a two-day National Solar Expo, which attracted thousands of visitors and generated considerable public interest in solar energy.

“More than 8,000 providers applied in response to our tender to expand solar energy services. We have also increased the number of providers to accelerate the programme,” he said.

The government would organise similar exhibitions in divisional cities and gradually extend the campaign to district levels to familiarise people with the benefits of rooftop solar systems, he added.

Highlighting the economic benefits of rooftop solar power, the minister said households could generate electricity on their rooftops, meet their own demand and earn money by selling surplus electricity to the government.

“Under the Prime Minister’s announcement, the government will purchase surplus electricity generated from rooftop solar systems at Tk 10 per unit, while the maximum production cost will be Tk 8. This will allow consumers to earn Tk 2 per unit,” he said.

The minister stressed the importance of battery storage alongside solar panels to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

“Solar power alone is not enough; battery storage is also necessary. We are working to promote solar systems with battery facilities,” he said.

Citing the Prime Minister’s residence as an example, he said the premises now run entirely on solar power with battery backup, ensuring electricity supply round the clock.

The government has also undertaken publicity campaigns, advertisements and awareness programmes to encourage people to install rooftop solar systems, he said.

The minister added that the Cabinet Division had instructed deputy commissioners across the country to install solar systems in government offices and allocated funds for the initiative.

Referring to the recently promulgated ordinance on solar power development, he said the move had restored investor confidence and encouraged private-sector investment.

Iqbal said following the promulgation of the ordinance by the President, around 200MW of solar electricity has already been added to the national grid within a short period.

The minister also expressed optimism that continued policy support, private investment and public participation would help the government achieve its solar power generation targets and reduce the country’s dependence on conventional electricity sources.​

 

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https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/322216/govt-okays-third-lng-terminal-amid-soaring-import-costs

Govt okays third LNG terminal amid soaring import costs

Staff Correspondent . Dhaka

The government has approved yet another liquefied natural gas import terminal even as global supply chains remain disrupted by conflicts, which have pushed up spot prices to three-times and curbed output at some of the country’s major suppliers.

The third floating LNG terminal at Kutubjom in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, has been awarded to China National Energy Engineering and Construction Co Ltd under a government-to-government arrangement on Thursday.

The approval was given at the 53rd meeting of Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase at the secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair.

- Another LNG terminal under current circumstances economically suicidal: expert

- Proposed Kutubjom terminal’s daily use charge termed ‘bottomless drain’ on taxpayers’ money

- Rationale for expanding LNG import infrastructure questioned as govt can cut gas use through large-scale rooftop solar installations

According to a document placed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division before the CCGP, the proposed cost of the project is around Tk 12,324 crore for a 15-year term or Tk 13,161 crore for a 20-year term.

The committee approved CNEE as the recommended bidder for the project, according to a press release issued by the Cabinet Division.

In a previous attempt on October 13, EMRD withdrew the same proposal from CCGP agenda. However, the Energy Division re-submitted the proposal a month after and received nod to award the deal to CNEE.

Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development said building another LNG terminal under the current circumstances was economically suicidal for Bangladesh.

He said the cost of LNG at the prevailing international market could translate into an end-user gas costing around Tk 132 per cubic metre, against an average domestic selling price of approximately Tk 18 per cubic metre.

The resulting gap would leave the government bearing a massive subsidy, he said, adding that the proposed Kutubjom terminal would require a daily terminal-use charge of $3,42,000 as well.

The proposed Kutubjom terminal’s daily use charge is 44 per cent higher than the $2,37,000 paid for Excelerate Energy’s Floating Storage Regasification Unit and 57 per cent higher than the $217,000 paid for Summit LNG’s FSRU.

Describing the arrangement as a ‘bottomless drain’ on taxpayers’ money, he questioned the rationale for expanding LNG import infrastructure when the government could instead reduce gas consumption in the power sector through large-scale rooftop solar installations.

Bangladesh currently has two FSRUs at Moheshkhali with a combined capacity of 1,100 million cubic feet of gas per day and they account for 35 per cent of the daily gas supply.

Since the outbreak of the West Asian conflict in late February, Bangladesh’s major LNG suppliers, including Qatar and Oman, declared force majeure, forcing Bangladesh to secure the gas largely from spot market at an inflated price.

JKM, the regional benchmark index for LNG spot prices in Asia, stood at around $31 per Million British thermal units on Thursday, which was three times the pre-war rate.

The purchase committee has also recommended approval of the import of two LNG cargoes in 2027 from Malaysia-based Pentitude Energy Sdn Bhd at a price of JKM minus $0.18 per MMBtu.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at its 37th meeting on Thursday recommended in-principle approval for direct LNG purchases from three companies based in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division proposed purchasing LNG from Japan’s JERA Global Markets Pte Ltd, along with signing a short-term LNG sale and purchase agreement and a term sheet between Petrobangla and the company.

The committee also recommended direct LNG purchases from ADNOC Trading Ltd of the UAE and Ojimadu & Marites Oil Marketing Nigeria Ltd/Uzzy Gems Beehive of Nigeria.​

 

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Titas Gas returns to profit in Q1 on lower system loss

A sharp reduction in system loss helped Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company make a strong turnaround in profitability in the first quarter of FY27. The company posted a profit of Tk 1.47 billion in the July-September quarter, against a loss of Tk 2.49 billion in the same period a year ea

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Titas Gas returns to profit in Q1 on lower system loss

A sharp reduction in system loss helped Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company make a strong turnaround in profitability in the first quarter of FY27.

The company posted a profit of Tk 1.47 billion in the July-September quarter, against a loss of Tk 2.49 billion in the same period a year earlier. It attributed its return to profit to a reduction in system loss from 9.96 per cent in Q1 FY26 to 5.91 per cent in Q1 FY27.

System loss represents the difference between the volume of gas entering Titas's distribution network and the volume ultimately billed to consumers.

The reduction significantly lowered the volume of purchased gas that goes unaccounted for and does not generate corresponding revenue.

In its quarterly financial statements published on Thursday, Titas Gas, which enjoys a monopoly on pipeline gas distribution in Dhaka and Mymensingh, said intensified drives against unauthorised gas connections and illegal pipeline networks, alongside an expansion of prepaid gas metering, had cut its system loss.

These initiatives helped curb unbilled gas consumption, improve measurement accuracy and narrow the gap between the volume of gas purchased and the amount billed to consumers, according to the company.

Despite the reduction, system loss remains well above the regulatory ceiling of 2 per cent.

Under the regulatory framework, the company has to contain its system loss to 2 per cent, and it must absorb the financial burden of any excess loss.

The persistent gap between actual and allowable system losses is one of the major structural challenges facing the country's largest gas distribution company.

The earnings recovery came despite a contraction in revenue. Titas Gas's revenue declined 14 per cent year-on-year to Tk 83.3 billion in the September quarter. Its cost of sales, however, fell by a steeper 18 per cent, providing significant relief to its bottom line.

The faster decline in costs compared with revenue highlights the importance of lower system loss in improving the company's financial performance, as unrecovered gas procurement costs directly affect its profitability.

Higher finance income also contributed to the profit growth, as finance income rose 5 per cent year-on-year to Tk 375 million in the September quarter.

Despite returning to profitability, Titas Gas continued to face mounting pressure on its operating cash flow, highlighting a gap between its accounting earnings and actual cash generation.

Its net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) deteriorated to negative Tk 5.73 in the July-September quarter from negative Tk 0.58 in the same period a year earlier.

The negative cash flow indicates that the company's operating payments exceeded cash collections during the quarter. Higher payments for gas purchases relative to collections from customers were the main reason behind the deterioration, according to the company.

That points to persistent working-capital pressure, as the company needs to maintain regular payments to gas suppliers while collecting outstanding bills from its large customer base.

Meanwhile, its net asset value (NAV) per share increased to Tk 85.43 as of September from Tk 83.94 at the end of June this year.

Annual losses still weigh on performance

The quarterly turnaround follows a difficult financial year for Titas Gas. The company reported a net loss of Tk 5.95 billion in FY26, although the loss narrowed from Tk 7.72 billion in FY25.

The company explained that an excess system loss of 7.96 percentage points over the allowable limit in FY26 forced it to absorb substantial gas procurement costs without generating corresponding revenue.

Titas Gas has identified illegal gas connections, ageing and corroded pipelines, inaccurate metering and accidental damage to distribution networks during excavation work as major contributors to excessive system loss. Inaccurate billing of unmetered domestic consumers has also added to the problem.

Following the quarterly earnings announcement, Titas Gas shares climbed 9.50 per cent to close at Tk 19.60 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange on Thursday, reflecting a positive market response to its return to profitability.​