The private sector has started dominating the country's power generation contributing 54.35 per cent of the total electricity against 45.65 per cent produced by state-owned power plants, reports UNB.
According to the latest statistics prepared by the Power Division, the country's total power generation capacity reached 20,343 MW of which 11,057 MW came from private sector producers while 9,286 MW from public entities.
Captive power generation of about 3,000 MW are also included in the private sector generation, while about 250 MW of renewable energy came from solar home systems included in the public sector generation.
Power Division officials said the private sector power generation witnessed a substantial growth due to a favourable investment policy offered by the government over the last one decade.
Private sector investors also appreciated the government's supportive role in achieving this progress demanding the continuation of such state policy to promote private investment in power sector.
"Without a strong support from the state, it was not possible for the private sector producers to reach the milestone," said Imran Karim, vice president of Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA).
As per the latest Power System Master Plan 2016, he said, the government envisioned to take the power generation to 40,000 MW by 2030, which requires a huge investment.
"If the current policy of the government continues, the private sector will be able to play a very important role in attaining the target," he added.
According to BIPPA, the private sector has invested about $12 billion over the last 10 years by setting up more than 50 power plants.
BIPPA leaders said they have now planned to invest $50 billion in the next 12 years to keep up the private sector's participation in power sector development.
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