Achieving sustainable energy targets in Bangladesh.

AuthorHossain, Mohammad

Bangladesh is a country of 147,570 [km.sup.2] with a population of 159 million. The country has shown tremendous growth in recent years, and has attained an average gross domestic product growth rate of 6 per cent. Booming economic growth, rapid urbanization, and expanding industrialization and development have increased the country's demand for electricity. It is recognized that energy is the key ingredient to alleviate poverty and to improve the socioeconomic condition of the people of Bangladesh. The vision of the Government is to make electricity available for all by 2021. In order to fulfill the vision, the Government has given topmost priority to the power sector and has prepared short-, medium- and long-term power generation plans using gas, coal, duel fuel, nuclear and renewable energy resources. Renewable energy will play a vital role in meeting the demand for electricity, especially in the off-grid areas of the country. The Government has set a target to generate 5 per cent of the total electricity supply from renewable energy resources by 2015 and 10 per cent by 2020. To achieve this goal, the Government has taken up a number of renewable energy programmes.

PRESENT ELECTRICITY SITUATION

Due to the relentless efforts of the Government, commendable achievement has been made in the power sector in the recent past. The Government has been able to reduce the gap between supply and demand for electricity. Power generation capacity (including captive) has been increased from 4,942 Megawatts (MW) in 2009 to 13,883 MW in 2015. At present, 74 per cent of the population has electricity coverage and the per capita power generation has reached 371 kWh. The table below shows the power sector at a glance:

Item June 2015 Power Generation Capacity (including captive) 13,883 MW Transmission Line 9,695 circuit km Distribution Line 341,000 km Access to Electricity 74% Per Capita Power Generation 371 kWh Nos. of consumers 17.5 million Average System Loss 13.54% LONG-TERM POWER SECTOR PLANNING

The Government has set a long-term target for electricity generation with the following strategies:

* Fuel diversification

* Development of domestic primary fuels

* Private and joint venture participation

* Energy efficiency improvement

* Use of alternative energy

* Coal as a main source of energy

* Cross-border power trade

* Use of nuclear energy

* Low carbon emission

* Construction of effective and efficient infrastructure

* Multisector coordination

As a part of this strategy a Power System Master Plan (PSMP) was drawn up in 2010 (which is presently under revision) with the following goals:

Year MW 2016 16,000 2021 24,000 2030 40,000 EMPHASIS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

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