The government contemplates introducing separate tariff structures for battery-swapping stations to encourage investment in the energy sector, according to Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) chairman Jalal Ahmed.
The move follows a request from a local start-up, he said, adding that a multinational company has already established more than 1,000 swapping stations for easy bikes across the country.
Mr Ahmed revealed the information at a high-level policy dialogue styled 'Green Transitions for a Prosperous Bangladesh: Renewable Energy and Urban Sustainability Solutions' hosted by Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) and supported by the International Growth Centre (IGC) at a city hotel on Thursday.
A battery-swap station is a place where an electric vehicle (EV) owner can exchange a depleted battery for a fully charged one. It is also known as a battery-switching station.
The event underscored the transformative potential of renewable energy and importance of urban sustainability in driving sustainable development countrywide.
Two panel sessions were held as part of the event, featuring distinguished experts addressing critical environmental and energy challenges.
In the first session, Dr Moogdho Mahzab, associate research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute, presented insights on 'Lead Poisoning from EV Battery Recycling and the Relocation of Manufacturing from China to Bangladesh'.
At the opening discussion, Dr Mazhab says as many as 4.0-million easy bikes are currently running in the country, while many are operating illegally.
There is no estimate of how much electricity is consumed by those easy bikes, according to him.
Dr Mahzab highlighted the public health impact of increased import tariffs on batteries in Bangladesh and stricter environmental regulations in China.
This collectively led to a decline in Chinese battery imports and the expansion of domestic lead-acid battery recycling, which has greatly contributed to lead seepage in the environment.
Dr Atonu Rabbani, economics professor at Dhaka University, also made a presentation on 'Opportunities and Barriers to Adopting Renewable Energy Technology in Bangladesh Factories'.
He finds that the perceived high cost of renewable energy technology is the primary barrier to sustainable energy sourcing in the apparel sector.
On the other hand, the second panel featured Dr Munshi Sulaiman, director (research) at the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, who presented a paper on 'Incentivising Source Sorting of Domestic Waste: An Experiment with Cox's Bazar Municipality'.
One of the findings of the ongoing study shows that an estimated 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste are processed daily, with another 2,000-3,000 tonnes left unprocessed, while only 4.0 per cent of them are recycled.
At the event, Dr Martin Mattsson, assistant professor at the Department of Economics, National University of Singapore, shared his research on 'Defensive Investments to Reduce Air Pollution Harms'.
In South Asia, according to him, 1.4-million people succumb to air pollution-related health hazards every year.
But very few middle-class households use air purifiers despite 80 per cent effectiveness of the gadget and electricity bill similar to a ceiling fan, he says.
In his speech as the chief guest, the BERC chief also underscored the critical role of renewable energy and sustainable urban development in advancing Bangladesh's national priorities.
He highlighted his commission's commitment to adopting a proactive approach, particularly in the power sector, while recognising environmental challenges that must be addressed to effectively fulfil its mandate.
PEB chairman Dr M Masrur Reaz moderated the session on sustainable cities, while Mr Shahid Vaziralli, head of research programme and Bangladesh country lead at the IGC, led the session on renewable energy and energy access.
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