\\\'Green energy\\\' gets popularity among companies

'Green energy' is becoming popular among the country's manufacturers due to demand of global business partners, eco-friendliness and cost-efficiency.
The business insiders said demand for green products has been on the rise from the global partners resulting in many industries having introduced green energy at their units.
They said the green energy components including wind, solar, geothermal, hydro-electric and biomass have been providing substantial benefits to climate, health and economy.
According to the industry players the renewable energy has significantly contributed to a decline in oil consumption across the country.
"In recent times a large number of manufacturing industries have introduced green energy at several sectors", managing director of Sunlight Solar Energy Ltd Kazi Zillur Rahman told the FE.
In last one year their company has provided green energy service to more then 150 big and medium industries, he said adding that they are now working to provide green energy service to 10 more industries.
He said many industries including those in RMG (readymade garment) sector have installed green energy equipment at their factories.
Thanks to introduction of green energy the competitiveness of the local products has got a boost in the global market, he added.
An official of BASE Technologies, a power and infrastructure company, said in last 2 years their company has provided service to more than 180 companies in Chittagong division.
He said in recent times many of the manufacturing companies have been turning to green energy as global business partners demand eco-friendly energy at industrial units.
He said at present the major source of electricity generation in Bangladesh is from fossil fuel which is not environment-friendly.
He said approximately 75.9 per cent electricity is produced from natural gas and 21.17 per cent from oil and coal.
Vice-president of BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Shahidullah Azim said the international business partners now opt for green industry to be introduced at the factories.
Mr Azim, also managing director of Classic Fashion Concept, said their company has been setting up a green factory to cope up with the world standards where they want to introduce green energy panels.
He said demand for green industry has been increasing from the international business partners; so they don't have any alternative to making factories eco-friendly.
Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), managing director of Evince Group, said use of green energy at industrial units has now become a necessity for making those eco-friendly.
He said the global business partners want to pay more if local manufacturers meet their demand of introducing eco-friendly equipment at their industries.
Managing director of Envoy Group Abdus Salam Murshedy said their company received $ 10 million foreign credit in 2013 for introducing eco-friendly equipment at the factory which will also enhance their business expansion.
He said for building a green factory, more than $ 15 million worth of foreign loans are now in the pipeline.
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