Energy News

The production of two units of the Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant has been stopped due to a coal shortage with effective from Saturday.

The Matarbari power plant had been receiving its coal supply from Japan's Sumitomo Corporation. The contract for 2,205,000 MT of coal with the Japanese company ended back in August after the delivery of the last consignment.

Indian business conglomerate Adani reportedly shut down one out of two power units in Jharkhand that supply power to Bangladesh from zero hours of Friday, claiming overdue payments totalling US$846 million. It has also threatened to shut down the remaining unit if the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) did not clear the dues by November 07.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Friday said the government has a plan to drill 19 more natural gas wells in Bhola by 2028 as part of intensifying the country's gas production efforts.

In the face of escalating climate challenges, Bangladesh is emerging as a beacon of resilience and commitment. The country has taken bold steps to address climate change, despite being one of the most vulnerable nations to its effects.

India's Adani conglomerate shut one of its two power units in Jharkhand that halved its cross-border electricity supply to Bangladesh in a hitch over payment backlog, sources said.

They said Adani Power Jharkhand Ltd (APJL) did it as the interim government didn't make its payment against power purchase by the deadline.

The government has reduced the retail prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk0.50 to Tk105 per litre from Tk105.50 for the month of November.

However, the prices of octane and petrol were remained unchanged at Tk125 and Tk121 per litre respectively.

While land-based facilities can be quickly secured by law enforcement, the FSRUs, which supply a significant portion of the country’s gas, remain at risk of disruption due to their remote location

The United Arab Emirates is very keen to invest in Bangladesh's logistics, ports, aviation and renewable energy sector and expressed readiness to support the Interim Government of the country, ambassador of the Gulf nation said on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) is considering utilising unused land to establish solar power parks at the Mirsharai Economic Zone in Chattogram, the largest industrial enclave in the country.

The scrapping of 42 power-plant projects including 37 renewable in the pipeline by the interim government could give a wrong message to both investors and the people here but for its evaluation. Now it has made the right choice for shifting to sustainable renewable energy policy.

The government is expected to resume providing gas connections to industries, aiming to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas to help the wheels of industrial units move.

But there is no possibility of lifting the suspension on fresh household gas connections, official sources said.

BANGLADESH is facing significant inflationary pressures, with the general inflation rate reaching a 12-year high of 11.66 per cent in mid-2024 (Bangladesh Market Monitor, July 2024, UN). Food inflation has surged even higher, hitting around 14.1 per cent due to a range of factors, including supply chain disruptions and global market volatility.

A restoration action comes soon from the interim government to reinstate the fiscal package for renewable energy-based power plants to attract potential investors.

Renewable energy investors would enjoy tax breaks until 2030 on the income derived from power generation, officials said.

As Bangladesh grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, the need for innovative financial mechanisms to bolster its resilience is more pressing than ever. Despite its relatively low contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions — accounting for less than 0.5 per cent of the world total — the country bears a disproportionate burden of climate-related disasters. For this South Asian nation, addressing climate change is no longer a policy choice but an existential imperative.

The National Committee for the Protection of Oil, Gas, Minerals, Power and Ports has demanded the cancellation of all power and energy deals made during the Sheikh Hasina-led regime and asked that potential contracts should be reviewed.