Photo : TDM
The government is contemplating drawing up a new energy master plan focusing on local energy, shrugging off import-focused energy policies.
The Hydrocarbons Unit, a research department of energy policy under the energy ministry, has recently proposed to formulate "The Energy Sector Smart Master Plan," focusing on local and primary energy. However, the Energy Division has asked the unit for a detailed action plan.
Experts of the sector have long been criticising the existing master plan because of its dependency on imported fuel which already has affected the country’s mega projects Rampal Thermal Power Plant and Payra Thermal Power Plant.
The country’s prominent energy expert, Prof Shamsul Alam told The Daily Messenger, "The current master plan is very whimsical and hell-bent on imported expensive fuel, overlooking local and renewable energy. Of course, it will be better if we can sketch another master plan based on domestic fuel."
He added that it will not be easy because the sector has already got hazardous from the desperate action. If one of the mega projects sits without generation, the country will count a huge loss.
An official of the Hydrocarbon Unit said, "We will work with the aim of fuel exploration, extraction and ensuring smarter use."
"We have already had a meeting on the matter. We are reviewing various aspects. I hope to submit a plan to the energy division very soon. In a recent meeting of the Energy Department, we discussed the plan to have an 'Energy Sector Smart Master Plan'. The Energy Department has asked us to submit a proposal," he said.
Gas is now the country's key fuel. Apart from this, a small amount of coal is being mined despite huge demand. However, most of the coal that is being used for power generation in the country is imported from abroad. One-third of the gas used daily is also imported. Import dependence is gradually increasing due to a shortage of domestic energy sources.
In this situation, the additional cost of energy imports is putting pressure on the country's economy. The new plan will outline how to protect the country by increasing domestic energy production.
Apart from this, the government is making an integrated plan for the power and energy sectors with JICA. This is the first time that an integrated plan is being formulated for power and energy.
The previous master plan did not include a plan based on the local energy resources.
For this reason, the plan had to be revised in the middle of implementation. As energy resources are not guaranteed, the government often goes beyond the Power System Master Plan and implements it, catering to impromptu problems.
Officials say that after the implementation of Digital Bangladesh, the main goal of the current government is to build a ‘Smart Bangladesh’. For this, various ministries and departments are already working in their own ways. Smart energy planning is part of that.
Recently, Hydrocarbon Unit signed an agreement with the Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET). It is believed that the scope of work has now been expanded to emphasise that the government has come up with its own plan.
TDM/SD
