Great to see this attitude to energy efficiency in Bangladesh

With all the problems that Bangladesh has concerning the impact of climate change, it is good to see how they are starting to view the role of energy efficiency, as explained in this post from Bangladesh’s Financial Express.

Energy efficiency can help save one-third of daily power output

Energy efficiency and conservation can save around 2,640 megawatts (MW) of electricity, more than one-third of the country’s daily electricity production, a study revealed Wednesday.

It would save US$ 6.0 billion worth capital investment, said Joint Secretary of the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) Siddique Zobair elaborating the findings of the study.

Efficient use of energy and its conservation would save 1020 MW of electricity from lighting, 30 MW electric ballasts, 520 MW from fans, 360 MW from motors, 70 MW from refrigerators and 640 MW from air conditioners, he said while presenting a keynote paper at a seminar titled “Energy management in industries.”

Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury stressed the need for a comprehensive communication strategy to ensure efficient use of energy in industries.

He reiterated the government’s move to enact laws to force consumers to save energy by ensuring its efficient use to cope with mounting demand-supply gap.

Consumers would be given a certain period of time to replace their old and inefficient energy equipment with efficient ones voluntarily, he said.

Actions under the legal framework would be taken if the consumers fail to go for efficient use of energy voluntarily, he added.

The government would encourage green and blue economy through efficient energy use, said Mr Chowdhury.

Regarding the electricity supply situation, he said currently there is no load- shedding.

The electricity outages are, however, the outcome of infrastructural bottlenecks like substation failure, problems in electricity transmission and distribution, said the adviser.

He urged the businessmen to have patience as the government has moved to upgrade transmission and distribution systems.

“Just think where you were during 2008 and where you are now,” he said.

Mr Chowdury also lauded Japan for financing a 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant at Matarbari of Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal.

This would be the single largest funding from a country, he added.

Japan’s decision for funding around $3.70 billion for the project reflects the government’s acceptability and leadership quality, said Mr Chowdhury.

Speaking at the seminar, State Minister Nasrul Hamid said the country is moving forward under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“We must have to advance smartly too,” he added.

Businessmen of different sectors like those re-rolling and textile millers, ready-made garment factory owners, also spoke on the occasion.

The businessmen alleged that they are paying gas bills without getting supplies.

“If we don’t get gas, how can we use it efficiently?” an industry owner questioned.

The state minister, however, urged them to be efficient whatever the energy they consume.

Power Secretary Monowar Islam and President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed also spoke at the function.