Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed says Bangladesh holds significant potential to expand renewable energy generation, particularly in the coastal region, but faces challenges in management and long-term planning.
Addressing these issues, he said, was the key to ensuring a just and sustainable energy transition.
He made the remarks on Tuesday at a dialogue titled "Towards a Just Energy Transition: Mainstreaming Recognitional, Procedural, Distributional, and Remedial Justice into Energy Plans and Policies".
The event was organised by Oxfam in Bangladesh at a hotel in the capital.
"In particular, coastal regions, such as Moheshkhali in Cox's Bazar and the Sandwip Island, have enormous potential to generate renewable electricity from solar energy. However, the lack of efficient management and long-term planning remains a major challenge in harnessing this potential," said Jalal.
Speaking as the event's chief guest, the BERC chairman also said, "We often think that the main barrier to a just transition lies only in our dependence on fossil fuels. But in reality, the problem runs much deeper.
"At present, the country's power generation capacity exceeds its demand. As a result, the government has to pay high capacity charges regularly, creating financial pressure. In this situation, advancing towards renewable energy is crucial for a sustainable transition."
AKM Sohel, additional secretary and chief of the UN wing at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), said climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh should have access to concessional loans with interest rates below 1 per cent as they continued to face recurring floods and other climate-induced disasters.
He noted that Bangladesh's vulnerability was rising steadily due to the growing impacts of climate change, which also posed significant challenges to achieving a just and inclusive energy transition.
"Like many other vulnerable nations, our country is facing increasing risks. Access to affordable and concessional financing is crucial not only for climate adaptation but also for supporting our transition towards cleaner energy in a fair and equitable manner," he said.
"We must collectively advocate at the global level for concessional financing that enables countries like Bangladesh to invest in renewable energy without compromising social equity and development priorities."
Sohel stressed that technology transfer on concessional terms was essential for countries like Bangladesh, which needed access to modern, efficient technologies to reduce emissions and enhance resilience without facing additional financial burdens.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem observed that research on just energy transition in the country remained limited, underscoring the need for deeper analysis and broader national dialogue on the issue.
Ashish Damle, country director at Oxfam in Bangladesh, delivered the address of welcome.
Dr Mohammad Emran Hasan, head of climate justice and natural resource rights at Oxfam in Bangladesh, presented the keynote.
Participants also stressed the urgency of advancing research on key areas, such as energy transition pathways, energy efficiency, sector-specific transition strategies, energy security, and the employment implications of shifting away from fossil fuels.
The dialogue concluded with a strong call for comprehensive policy reforms, greater institutional capacity, and increased investment in renewable energy infrastructure to ensure a fair and inclusive energy transition in the country.
It brought together government officials, development partners, and civil society representatives to explore how justice principles could be effectively integrated into the country's evolving energy frameworks.
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