Energy News

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has put forward a set of recommendations targeting the national budget for FY2025-26, especially with regard to the power and energy sector. There are grave concerns about the sector since it has confronted a vicious cycle of financial crunch over the last several years, which is likely to continue in the next fiscal year unless necessary measures are taken by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MoPEMR) and Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Bangladesh's regulatory environment for supporting a clean energy transition ranks as the third weakest in South Asia, ahead of only Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to a new report released yesterday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF).

BANGLADESH’S energy sector stands at a critical inflection point, caught between the urgent need to meet growing demand and the imperative to transition towards sustainable solutions. The country has made impressive strides in electricity coverage, expanding access to over 96 per cent today. Yet this remarkable achievement rests on increasingly shaky foundations — an overreliance on imported fossil fuels that drains foreign reserves, exposes the economy to volatile global markets, and contributes significantly to environmental degradation.

Citizens may find brief sanctuary from sweltering afternoons, only to face the prospect of rolling blackouts when aging transmission lines—and surging demand—push the grid to its limits, warns the PDB chief

The low-lying delta nation of Bangladesh, a land often synonymous with resilience in the face of adversity, now stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. Having made remarkable strides in economic growth and poverty reduction, the country is increasingly aware of the imperative to decouple its progress from the environmental costs of traditional energy sources. The horizon of green potential beckons, promising a future powered by clean, sustainable energy, and Bangladesh has embarked on an ambitious, albeit challenging, journey to embrace this transition.

Gone is the old playbook of funneling electricity into Dhaka’s arteries at the cost of dimming rural homes, officials say. The interim administration has drawn a line in the sand: this summer, villages will not be left to sweat in silence so that city lights and air conditioners (ACs) can stay on

Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its energy journey. With a rapidly growing economy, a burgeoning population exceeding 170 million, and escalating energy demands, the nation faces the dual challenge of ensuring energy security while transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient energy system. This op-ed explores the current state of Bangladesh's energy system, identifies the barriers hindering its energy transition, and highlights the opportunities that can be harnessed to accelerate this transformation.

The hike erodes Bangladesh’s regional competitiveness. Competitors like Vietnam and India impose minimal taxes on LNG imports – 2.75% and 2% respectively – while Bangladesh slaps a steep 37% tariff, inflating costs despite government pledges to ease business expenses

The interim government published a draft of the new Renewable Energy Policy 2025 in February this year and also emphasised the renewable energy sector at the recent investment summit. Can the country finally achieve realistic renewable energy goals?

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) recently announced a 33 percent increase in gas prices for new industrial and captive power consumers. The tariff for new industrial connections rose from Tk 30 to Tk 40 per cubic metre, while captive power users saw the rate increase from Tk 31.5 to Tk 42 per cubic metre. This hike is likely to affect energy-intensive sectors, such as textiles and RMG, ceramics, steel, fertiliser production, and power generation.

Bangladesh's draft renewable energy policy 2025 has come under heavy scrutiny from energy and climate experts who say it lacks a clear roadmap and coherent direction to meet renewable energy targets.

The policy, which took more than four years for drafting, was made available for public consultation for just 21 days through February 24 this year.

Greatly varying capacity charges paid to power companies with similar capacities highlight a chronic ill practice by the past Awami League regime, sending Bangladesh’s economy into a tailspin.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board calculated the capacity charges considering the use of 60 per cent capacities of the power plants.

The commissioning of Bangladesh's first-ever nuclear power plant at Rooppur faces delays due to incomplete gridline work, particularly the crucial 2-km stretch over the mighty Padma river.

The issue was highlighted during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection in March, which identified 17 areas requiring updates to meet operational standards.

Bangladesh finds itself navigating a delicate balance between rapid economic development and urgent climate action. As the world’s seventh most climate-vulnerable nation, the country contributes a modest 0.4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its domestic emissions are growing at an alarming 5.6 per cent annual rate. This increase stems from the twin engines of industrialisation and urbanisation that are propelling Bangladesh towards its goal of upper-middle-income status by 2031. The nation now faces a critical challenge: how to maintain its impressive development momentum while addressing the major sources of emissions that threaten both its environmental future and economic stability.

Additionally, Moscow has responded to Dhaka’s request by extending the tenure of an $11.38 billion Russian state loan for the main nuclear power project by two years, postponing the start of repayments by 1.5 years