Govt mulls using all options to generate electricity: Dilip
Thursday, 16 April 2009
FE Report
The government is mulling to tap all potential sources to generate electricity ranging from harnessing the underwater current in the sea to the use of sugarcane-based fuel, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said Wednesday.
"The government is very serious on the issue as this is the core demand of all the parliament members on behalf of their respective constituencies," he said while speaking at a roundtable at the auditorium of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) in the city.
The country's sole industry-based chamber organised the roundtable styled 'Industry: Power Crisis and Solutions' which was presided by BCI President Shahedul Islam. MA Rouf Chowdhury, member of the Regulatory Reforms Commission, moderated it.
The industries minister said no electricity was added to the existing supply in the last seven years. "We have to accept this reality. This will not change overnight."
"The government is planning to generate electricity by using coal. We are mulling to utilise wind and solar power. We are also thinking of generating electricity from all available sources from the current of seawater to skin of sugarcane."
The government is trying to solve the persisting power crisis through comprehensive effort, he added.
The minister said the government was in talk with Russia over setting-up a nuclear power plant. "Dhaka is now evaluating a proposal received from Moscow."
"We have to be self-sufficient in this sector."
Mr Barua said they were prepared to welcome private sector entrepreneurs if they came forward on the issue.
"The private sector can generate electricity and can feed it to the national grid. We are prepared to buy electricity from them at reasonable price."
According to the industries minister, the country has to be industrialised to implement the election promise of the government for creating Digital Bangladesh.
Terming the electricity as the soul of economy, he said energy and power is very important to realize Digital Bangladesh Vision.
"The government is handling this issue very carefully. The prime minister has clearly announced her plan on energy and power in her election manifesto."
The minister also said the government would take steps to save the sick industries as the country was in transition from a trade-based economy to industry-based economy.
The government is mulling to tap all potential sources to generate electricity ranging from harnessing the underwater current in the sea to the use of sugarcane-based fuel, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said Wednesday.
"The government is very serious on the issue as this is the core demand of all the parliament members on behalf of their respective constituencies," he said while speaking at a roundtable at the auditorium of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) in the city.
The country's sole industry-based chamber organised the roundtable styled 'Industry: Power Crisis and Solutions' which was presided by BCI President Shahedul Islam. MA Rouf Chowdhury, member of the Regulatory Reforms Commission, moderated it.
The industries minister said no electricity was added to the existing supply in the last seven years. "We have to accept this reality. This will not change overnight."
"The government is planning to generate electricity by using coal. We are mulling to utilise wind and solar power. We are also thinking of generating electricity from all available sources from the current of seawater to skin of sugarcane."
The government is trying to solve the persisting power crisis through comprehensive effort, he added.
The minister said the government was in talk with Russia over setting-up a nuclear power plant. "Dhaka is now evaluating a proposal received from Moscow."
"We have to be self-sufficient in this sector."
Mr Barua said they were prepared to welcome private sector entrepreneurs if they came forward on the issue.
"The private sector can generate electricity and can feed it to the national grid. We are prepared to buy electricity from them at reasonable price."
According to the industries minister, the country has to be industrialised to implement the election promise of the government for creating Digital Bangladesh.
Terming the electricity as the soul of economy, he said energy and power is very important to realize Digital Bangladesh Vision.
"The government is handling this issue very carefully. The prime minister has clearly announced her plan on energy and power in her election manifesto."
The minister also said the government would take steps to save the sick industries as the country was in transition from a trade-based economy to industry-based economy.