রবিবার, ১৩ অক্টোবর ২০২৪, ০৭:৩৪ অপরাহ্ন
The Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has said the government-proposed Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) target of 90,000 MW of electricity generation by 2050 is too ambitious, and recommended that it should immediately be pulled out.
No matter how the target is achieved, there are doubts about the usage and affordability, the CPD said at a press conference in the capital on Thursday. This may hike the power generation costs, including the capacity payment burden, on the people, the think tank also said.
At the press conference, the CPD says the IEPMP prioritises coal and LNG-based power generation, while ignoring renewable energy. This conflicts with the government’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) plan.
Recommending cancellation of the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act-2010 (Special Provisions), the think tank said the government should phase out the expensive rental and quick rental projects.
Even oil-fired IPPs (independent power producers) will have to go on the “No Electricity No Pay” agreement by revisiting the power purchase deal. This will reduce the burden of government expenditure on the energy and power sector and reduce subsidy pressure.
By 2025, the CPD has suggested moving away from expensive power plants and increasing investment in renewable energy.
Additionally, the think tank mentioned that the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is earning a profit of Tk 29 per litre from diesel. Despite that, BPC is recently seeking Tk 19,000 subsidy, which the CPD found questionable.
The think tank also questioned the Tk 53,000 subsidy on the power and energy sector demanded recently by the power, energy and mineral resources ministry.
