Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC) Mohammad Wahid Hossain has said that Bangladesh’s overall management system is not research-friendly, which has hindered the progress that could have been achieved over the past decade.
He made the remarks on Sunday (October 26) while addressing the 10th founding anniversary ceremony of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC).
“We have managed to bring BEPRC onto a steady track. We no longer have to worry about research proposals as we are now receiving quality submissions. I can now confidently say that the future of this organisation looks promising after 10 years—and that means a bright future for the sector and for the country,” said the BEPRC Chairman.
He added that while no research proposals were signed in the previous two years, four agreements have been inked in the past year, and two more are in the final stage.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed, speaking as the chief guest, said that “Ten years is not a short time. The power and energy sector is crucial for any country. Per capita electricity consumption is often used as an indicator of a nation’s development.”
“In India’s Maharashtra state, per capita electricity use exceeds 3,000 kilowatt-hours, while in West Bengal it is 348. In Bangladesh, it is only 640 kilowatt-hours. By comparison, Malaysia’s per capita use of 4,000 to 5,000 kilowatt-hours reflects its level of development,” he added.
Ahmed also cautioned that despite having double the required generation capacity, the country cannot afford to remain complacent. “We have built one power plant after another, showing high growth figures. Around 4,000 captive power licenses have been issued, with a total capacity of 6,000 MW. But we must think about what the situation will be in five or ten years,” he said.
He mentioned that BEPRC is working on a master plan considering future challenges, including the garment sector’s transition to net-zero emissions. “Buyers are pressuring the industry to go net-zero, and it is crucial to analyze future demand in that context,” he said.
The BERC chairman further noted that the commission has a research fund, but due to policy constraints, investments had not been made earlier. “Now that the necessary policy framework is in place, investments will begin,” he said.
Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Member (Innovation) of BEPRC, said that 17 research projects have been undertaken in collaboration with renowned national and international universities and research institutions. Of these, 11 projects have been completed and six are ongoing.
The projects include developing a standard model for electric three-wheelers, producing biocoal from waste, generating electricity from low-speed wind, designing affordable synchrophasor devices, creating energy meters based on priority load management, and building web- and app-based systems for substation monitoring. A total of Tk 34 crore has been allocated for these projects, with Tk 21 crore already spent on the completed ones.
He also highlighted that in the last fiscal year, Bangladesh’s total imports amounted to USD 84 billion, of which USD 20 billion was spent on the power and energy sector. “Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation alone spent USD 5.5 billion on fuel imports, while LNG imports cost another USD 4.5 billion,” he said.
“Our energy sector is now largely import-dependent, with around 65 percent of primary energy being imported. This could rise to 90 percent in the future, putting pressure on foreign reserves. To reduce imports, there is no alternative to research,” Dr. Rafiqul added. “Although research has long been neglected, we are now moving from the innovation phase to incubation and industrialization. We provide up to Tk 4 crore in funding for research projects.”
The event was also attended by Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board Chairman S.M. Ziaul Azim, Eastern Refinery Managing Director Sharif Hasnat, representatives from Padma Oil Company and Titas Gas, and directors of BEPRC’s research projects.