The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will need to mobilise US$10.08 billion to meet foreign debt obligations between May and December 2025, officials have confirmed.
Although Bangladesh has cleared all external payments in the energy sector up to April 2025, the sector still carries an outstanding foreign debt of approximately $700 million, according to ministry sources.
Officials said the upcoming payments are equivalent to about two and a half months’ worth of external bills for the power sector.
In addition, the Power Division will require a further $2,417.93 million between May and December 2025 to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Of the dues expected over the seven-month period, approximately US$1.2 billion will be needed to pay Adani Group, for government-to-government (G2G) electricity imports from India, and for coal imports from Indonesia for coal-fired power plants.
Official data also shows that the energy sector will require US$3,356.08 million during the same period for LNG imports and natural gas production from fields operated by international oil companies (IOCs).
From January to April 2025, Bangladesh has already paid US$1,637.6 million for LNG imports and IOC-related gas bills.
Meanwhile, the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is projected to need US$3,605 million over the next seven months for fuel imports and repayment of loans from the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
Energy expert Professor Ijaz Hossain urged the government to triple its gas exploration efforts to reduce import dependence. “The government can even issue ‘Gas Bonds’ to finance exploratory drilling,” he suggested.
He also recommended the formation of a new company dedicated to exploratory drilling, partnering with international firms that have reservoir and drilling expertise.
“We’ve been neglecting our domestic energy resources—gas, coal, and renewables. Our only focus seems to be on imports, which require dollars,” Prof. Hossain said in frustration during a recent seminar organised by the Forum for Energy Research and Budget (FERB).
Speaking on the issue of external payments in the energy and power sectors, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Power and Energy, told Just Energy News, “We have, in principle, decided to clear all dues in the power and energy sectors by December 2025.”
He added that the government is exploring various options to reduce both internal and external costs in the power and energy sector.
It is worth noting that Bangladesh will need approximately $13 billion in total to cover external payments in the power and energy sectors in 2025.