By Mashkawath Hamid
The National Power Energy Week was conducted over the course of three days, spanning from 7th December to 10th December. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the program at approximately 10 A.M. at the Bashundhara International Convention Centre and the event itself served as a beacon of progress and success achieved when the 15,000 MW power generation capacities had been met. Shortly after the inauguration ceremony, followed the opening of an exhibition relating to power and energy related products and projects. The state minister of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid had orchestrated a total of four seminars regarding various topics and featuring multiple experts and professionals who addressed a litany of subjects.
The seminars were launched on a positive note at 11 A.M. on the 8th of December. The first seminar addressed matters revolving around the ‘Technologies of Coal-based Power Plants’ hosted by Arshar Mansoor, Senior Vice President of the Electric Power Research Institute and moderated by Mohammad Hossain, Director General of Power Cell. The seminar saw renowned Business Executive Peter Nicholls, tri-sector commercial strategy advisor, who provided key insight on how the excessive reliance on fossil fuels weaken the energy mix portfolio with 62.68% of the installed capacity consisting of natural gas and risk depleting the main domestic fuel source of the country. This was followed by the consideration of the strides being taken in the new plants created through private-public partnerships and the attainable increase in efficiency that could be derived through proper transmission and distribution management of energy sources. One of the chief panelist’s present was none other than the Honorable State Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid.
The event then went with its second seminar on ‘Smart Grids, Digital Bangladesh and Internet of Things’ at roughly 2 P.M., the same day. The keynote speaker present was Nameer Rahman, Bangladeshi-Canadian Energy Policy Specialist along with the moderator Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Chairman (Secretary-in-Charge) of the Bangladesh Energy & Power Research Council (EPRC). The two-hour seminar saw the discussion regarding the power consumption per capita along with entailed plans to generate 24,000 MW by 2021 and 39,000 MW by 2030 alongside the plan of meeting a quota of 100% electrification in the country by 2021. Talks of how the basic solar panel usage in areas where the grid connection hadn’t reached yet could be advanced through an influx of digital appliances shined a broader light on the course Bangladesh has embarked upon. The seminar was graced by Honorable Minister for Science & Technology Architect, Yeafesh Osman, and Honorable State Minister for ICT Zunaid, Ahmed Palak MP and the Executive Director of Climate Parliament, Sanjay Kumar.
A presentation then followed to highlight ‘Energy Efficiency Case Studies’ moderated by Anwar Sikder, Chairman of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA). Analysis of how the garments industry comprises of almost 78% of the foreign currency earnings depicted how significant the advancement of the sector would rely heavily on the sustainability of its costs in order to meet the targets set by the government; a target ranging in billions. Once more the studies showed how natural gas spans 28.4 trillion cubic feet with approximately 90% being recoverable making it the forefront of energy consumption due to rising economic demands.
On December 10th, the final seminar relating to “International Best Practices in Power and Energy Sector: Lessons for South Asia & Bangladesh” convened under moderator Syed Munir Khasru, Chairman IPAG & Professor, IBA, DU, at 2 P.M. Consultation regarding neighboring countries featured plans of importing roughly 2,000 MW of electricity from India while Myanmar provides potential for a strong source of hydropower generating up to 100 GW according to the International Hydropower Association. Once again chief guests such as Donna Peng from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and Vishal Mehta from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) provided their expertise on such matters.
Finally, key figures such as Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Chairman (Secretary-in-Charge), Bangladesh Energy & Power Research Council (EPRC) and Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator, SDG, Prime Minister’s Office addressed the entirety of the event, concluding with the cultural program at 6:30 P.M. brought the Power and Energy Weekend into full circle.
