Dhaka wants developed nations to show greater ‘energy responsibility’

Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury said on Wednesday developed countries should demonstrate greater 'energy responsibility' towards a demand side control of power wastage and make frontier technologies for smart and renewable energy available to developing countries, reports UNB.

He was addressing the Asian and Pacific Energy Forum in Bangkok.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has achieved unprecedented breakthrough in achieving energy security by quadrupling power generation and championing energy and power grid connectivity with immediate neighbour in the past nine years," DrTawfiq said.

Bangladesh was highly praised at the forum for its remarkable success in increasing electricity penetration from 45 per cent to 90 per cent since 2009, including five million home solar systems, the highest in the world.

Energy ministers from more than 20 countries from the Asia and the Pacific region met at the UN in Bangkok to commit effective implementation of SDG7 for enhanced energy security and sustainable energy for Agenda 2030 of sustainable development.

Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the Second Asian and Pacific Energy Forum, the ministerial level platform for enhanced energy security and sustainable use of energy.

At the opening ceremony of the forum, Under Secretary of the United Nations and UNESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Virasakdi Futrakul and Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia Kirill Molodtsov also spoke.

Earlier, the Energy Adviser called on Thai Energy Minister Dr Siri Jirapongphan at the Ministry of Energy to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to work on a framework cooperation agreement on energy sector, said a press release.

The Thai Energy minister stressed regional cooperation for ensuring sustainable energy for all.

The Energy Adviser also paid a courtesy call on the UNESCAP Executive Secretary at her office.

At the meeting, the Executive Secretary has agreed to conduct a feasibility study for frontier technology in the energy sector for renewable and sustainable energy for Asian and Pacific countries.