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Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, the interim government’s advisor on electricity, energy and mineral resources, said that instead of walking on the path of sustainable development, it seems that the main goal of the previous government was to create opportunities for corruption in the electricity and energy sector.

However, the current interim government is moving towards achieving sustainable electricity policies and procedures by stopping all those methods that created opportunities for corruption. ‘We have restructured the Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to fix electricity tariffs. At the same time, we are working to revise the integrated electricity and energy master plan and are reviewing the renewable energy policy,’ said Fawzul Kabir Khan.

He made these remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Bangladesh Energy Prosperity-2050’ conference at the auditorium of the BIAM Foundation in the capital on Wednesday. Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan said, “Along with all this, we are also moving away from independent power producers (IPPs) and are moving towards implementing more sustainable power policies.”

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor on Environment, Forests and Climate Change to the interim government, presided over the inaugural ceremony of the 3-day conference. In her speech, she said, “Bangladesh is facing serious obstacles in achieving energy prosperity due to the pressure of many power contracts and the ongoing crisis. Along with the increasing gap in quality, affordability and transparency, equity in energy use remains a major issue.”

Clear policies, strong private sector participation and transformation in all areas from energy production to storage are needed to meet the 40 percent renewable energy target by 2041. Ensuring reliable power for industries, adopting subsidized renewable energy in energy-intensive sectors, and repurposing land from power plants for solar and other renewable projects can accelerate this transformation.

More than 300 national and international representatives, including policymakers, energy experts, development partners, private sector investors and financiers, civil society organizations, and youth, have gathered for the second three-day ‘Bangladesh Energy Prosperity 2050’ conference. Building on the success of the first conference held in 2023, this year’s event is being organized by a joint initiative of 23 organizations with an expanded collaboration to accelerate progress on the path of renewable energy and advance prosperity through an integrated approach to sustainable development.

In the inaugural session, Dr. Mohammad Tamim and Rahim Afroz Renewable Energy Limited (RREL) Managing Director Munawar Misbah Moin were present as special guests. Deepal Chandrabarua, Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Sainan Houghton, Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Lidinacpil, Abul Kalam Azad also expressed their solidarity.

Sainan Houghton, Deputy Regional Program Director, Tara Climate Foundation, said, “We must work together to advance a renewable energy transformation by realizing Bangladesh’s renewable energy potential. Countries like Vietnam, South Africa, Pakistan, and China have made remarkable progress in the power sector, even in challenging circumstances; and the transformations took just months, not years. These successes prove that great things can be achieved through collective efforts and commitment.

Asian People’s Movement for Debt and Development (APMDD) Coordinator Koli Dinakpil said that the transformation of the fossil fuel-based economy is a big challenge. Present as a special guest, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Dr. Mohammad Tamim said that replacing fossil fuel-based power plants with solar power can save 4000-5000 MW of electricity in summer. Also, efficient use of electricity can reduce electricity consumption by 30%-40%.

Hasan Mehedi, Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development, welcomed the high-level panelists, representatives and participants, emphasizing the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The Bangladesh Energy Prosperity Conference promises proper participation, diverse perspectives and strategic dialogue from all parties. The conference is focusing on five key themes with a view to sustainable change. These are policy coordination, institutional reforms, financial systems, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and socio-environmental considerations.

The conference also held two concurrent sessions, focusing on policy coordination in the energy and power sectors for a green transition in Bangladesh and critical issues of institutional reforms for a just and green transition. The conference will continue till 13 December to continue the coordinated steps for a green and just transition to build a sustainable future for the power sector in Bangladesh.

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