Focus should also be given on strengthening the capacity of implementing renewable energy projects, and traditional and non-traditional alternative energy projects should get priority in the upcoming policy document, the experts suggested at a virtual seminar on Thursday.
The expert group discussion, titled 'Reflections of the Power Sector in the Upcoming Eighty Five-Year Plan: Perspectives on Strategies and Initiatives', was organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
In the introductory remarks, CPD's executive director Fahmida Khatun
highlighted the need for institutional reforms in the power sector for developing a sustainable energy sector in the country.
On his part, CPD’s Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem suggested that an alignment of the demand projection should be made by the upcoming PSMP 2021, a release said.
The energy mix, which is highly biased towards fossil fuel, should be gradually rebalanced with setting up renewable energy-based projects, he said, highlighting that the plan should focus on appropriate mechanisms to lessen the fiscal pressure, huge import payment and debt burden caused in case of different power sector-related activities.
However, Mohammad Alauddin, Chairman (Additional Secretary), Sustainable & Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA), said to move to renewable energy, "relying only on solar energy would not be enough".
He suggested that more studies should be conducted regarding opportunities of producing wind energy in Bangladesh. Echoing CPD's presentation, he put emphasis on institutional strengthening of SREDA by increasing human resources.
Mohammad Hossain, Director General, Power Cell, Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR), said the high reserve margin of generation is due to the low demand of power in the COVID-19 scenario. "The government is taking due measures in addressing rising cost, inefficiency and higher financial burden on the power sector."
While moderating the session, CPD’s Distinguished Fellow, Professor Mustafizur Rahman emphasised how the power and energy sector are now facing challenges from generation of electricity to pricing and energy mix issues.
