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Energy News

Jul 22, 2025

Zero carbon, maximum resilience: The future of climate adaptation strategies

Climate change poses an existential threat to Bangladesh, one of the most vulnerable countries due to its geographical location, high population density, and dependence on agriculture. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing monsoon patterns significantly affect livelihoods, food security, and economic stability.

Zero carbon, maximum resilience: The future of climate adaptation strategies

Source: The Business Standard

Jul 21, 2025

China embarks on world's largest hydropower dam, capital markets cheer

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, July 21 (Reuters) - China's Premier Li Qiang announced construction had begun on what will be the world's largest hydropower dam, on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau, at an estimated cost of at least $170 billion, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Commencement of the hydropower project, China's most ambitious since the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, was seized by Chinese markets as proof of economic stimulus, sending stock prices and bond yields higher on Monday.

China embarks on world's largest hydropower dam, capital markets cheer

Source: Reuters

Jul 21, 2025

Govt to fix tariffs for nine power plants after years of anomalies

The interim government has moved to set rates for nine large power plants that have been selling electricity to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) without official tariff approval. However, the power plants in question are owned by the state-run entities, fully or partially.

These power plants, with a combined capacity of 3,414 megawatts, were implemented during the previous Awami League government.

Govt to fix tariffs for nine power plants after years of anomalies

Source: The Financial Express

Jul 20, 2025

Rooftop solar cannot be another black hole for public funds

Despite renewed government orders, Bangladesh’s rooftop solar dream risks collapsing again unless it learns from its past mistakes

On June 25, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus ordered the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of all government buildings. Within a week, the country's High Court delivered another landmark verdict—responding to a petition by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), it directed that solar panels be installed on all rooftops in Dhaka.

Rooftop solar cannot be another black hole for public funds

Source: The Business Standard

Jul 20, 2025

RNPP likely to produce power from October

Moscow to revise loan agreement, Washington expected to allow transaction with Russian cos

Bangladesh is expected to join over 50 countries using nuclear power peacefully as one of the two under-construction reactors of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Iswardi will go on production in October. Officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology have told New Age that around 52 days will take the reactor to deliver potential 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

RNPP likely to produce power from October

Source: New Age

Jul 20, 2025

Bangladesh eyes $2bn energy investment deals with Indonesia

Bangladesh is likely to propose investment deals worth US$2 billion with Indonesia, focusing on the second phase of the Matarbari coal-fired power plant and a land-based LNG terminal, during the upcoming visit of Chief Adviser of the interim government, Prof. Muhammed Yunus, to Jakarta next month.

Bangladesh eyes $2bn energy investment deals with Indonesia

Source: Just Energy News

Jul 18, 2025

Govt to cut power subsidies under 3yr IMF-backed plan

The government is drawing up a three-year roadmap to gradually cut subsidies in the power and gas sectors, aiming to ease the growing fiscal pressure.

The roadmap, covering FY26 to FY28, is being developed with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is expected to be finalised by September. An IMF technical mission visited Dhaka in May and has already drafted a plan.

Govt to cut power subsidies under 3yr IMF-backed plan

Source: The Daily Star

Jul 18, 2025

Govt moves to curb power generation costs

In a bid to rein in soaring electricity subsidies and generation costs, the government has initiated a plan to reduce expenditure at power plants where it holds full or partial ownership, officials said.

The initial focus will be on trimming operating and maintenance (O&M) costs through discussions and negotiations with state-owned power companies and joint ventures in which the government has substantial stakes.

Govt moves to curb power generation costs

Source: The Financial Express

Jul 18, 2025

Loan tenure for Rooppur plant extended

Under the new arrangement, repayments will now commence in September 2028

Bangladesh has successfully got extended the Russian loan disbursement period for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant until 2027.

Loan tenure for Rooppur plant extended

Source: The Business Standard

Jul 15, 2025

Reform without rhetoric: A working model from the energy sector

No press conferences. No social media fanfare. No credit-taking speeches. Just quiet, focused work that delivered results.

In a country where political promises are often louder than action and where the word "reform" is more likely to show up in party manifestos than in the day-to-day machinery of government, one ministry has shown what meaningful change can look like. Not in theory, not on paper, but in practice.

Reform without rhetoric: A working model from the energy sector

Source: The Business Standard

Jul 15, 2025

Commercial operation date first, tariff re-negotiation later

The interim government has backed down from its "prior re-negotiation" on tariffs as the pre-condition for approval of the commercial operation date (COD) of the 718MW JERA Meghnaghat power plant.

The state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) now intends to approve the COD of the Japanese JERA-owned gas-fired combined cycle power plant before tariff re-negotiation, a source close to the matter told The Financial Express Monday.

Commercial operation date first, tariff re-negotiation later

Source: The Financial Express

Jul 12, 2025

Matarbari power plant eyes G2G coal deal with Indonesia after quality setbacks

While officials that operates the plant, see the G2G approach as cost-effective and quality-assured, experts warn that bypassing open tenders could undermine competition and price transparency

After receiving substandard coal from a private supplier, authorities of the 1,200MW Matarbari thermal power plant in Maheshkhali are pursuing a government-to-government (G2G) deal with Indonesia to secure coal directly from state-owned mines.

Matarbari power plant eyes G2G coal deal with Indonesia after quality setbacks

Source: The Business Standard

Jul 11, 2025

FY26 Budget: Has Energy Crisis Been Overlooked?

The national budget of Bangladesh for the fiscal year 2025-26, proposed at Tk7.9 trillion, reflects a complex interplay of economic priorities and challenges. It comes at a time when demand from various sectors far exceeds the availability of resources. Energy remains a critical resource for many industrial and economic activities of the economy. A stable and uninterrupted energy supply is inextricably linked to productivity, industrial growth and overall economic resilience.

FY26 Budget: Has Energy Crisis Been Overlooked?

Source: The Daily Sun

Jul 11, 2025

How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant

Despite three tender attempts since January last year, the project authority, RPCL-Norinco Int’l Power Limited (RNPL), has repeatedly failed to appoint a long-term provider

Bangladesh's ambitious 1,320-megawatt Patuakhali ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant stands fully equipped and ready to feed electricity into the national grid. However, months after its two units commenced test runs, this significant investment remains in limbo, plagued by a baffling inability to secure a long-term coal supplier.

How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant

Source: The Business Standard

Jul 10, 2025

HC questions legality of cancelling primary approvals for 10 renewable energy projects

The court has directed the power and energy secretary, the chairman and secretary of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), and the secretary of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh to respond to the rule within eight weeks

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the government's decision to cancel Letters of Intent (LOIs) for 10 renewable energy projects – where significant groundwork, including land acquisition, has already been completed – should not be declared illegal.

HC questions legality of cancelling primary approvals for 10 renewable energy projects

Source: The Business Standard

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