Energy : Trying better options
Friday, 8 June 2007
According to press reports, the government of Bangladesh (GOB) has drafted a new energy policy. This would replace the prevailing energy policy that was introduced in 1995. What is worrisome about the new energy policy, from whatever could be learnt about it so far, is that it would put a great deal of emphasis on the use of coal as a source of energy.
Presently, coal based energy is only a very small part of the total energy consumption picture of the country. But with the adoption and implementation of the new energy policy, this scenario could fast change with coal becoming the major source of power generation in the country in the near future. There would be no need to worry but for the fact that coal can be an awfully polluting agent and when the environment conscious countries of the world have been carefully replacing or excluding coal in power generation, Bangladesh seems to be getting ready to embrace this environmentally hazardous option when there are better alternatives open to it such as nuclear power.
Shamim Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka
Presently, coal based energy is only a very small part of the total energy consumption picture of the country. But with the adoption and implementation of the new energy policy, this scenario could fast change with coal becoming the major source of power generation in the country in the near future. There would be no need to worry but for the fact that coal can be an awfully polluting agent and when the environment conscious countries of the world have been carefully replacing or excluding coal in power generation, Bangladesh seems to be getting ready to embrace this environmentally hazardous option when there are better alternatives open to it such as nuclear power.
Shamim Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka