|
Energy
Sector
In
recent times, establishment
of important physical
infrastructures, setting up
of new power plants and the
pace of industrialization in
the country has slowed down
due to energy supply
shortage. The sluggish
industrialization which has
hindered development
activities is apprehended to
create a negative impact on
employment and consequently
on the people’s
livelihood. This dismal
state of energy sector has
resulted from lack of
initiatives and insufficient
investment in the sector
during the past years.
Realizing the necessity for
its improvement, the present
government has indicated
energy sector as a priority
sector.
Current
Position of Energy Sector
At
present,
Bangladesh
has energy supply from both
renewable and nonrenewable
sources, 38 percent of which
comes from biomass. However,
75 percent of commercial
energy is provided from
natural gas. Currently, gas
production per day is 2000
MMCF in our country. Use of
imported oil accounts for
the lion’s share of the
rest of the energy
requirement. Our annual
requirement of fuel is
approximately 3.7 million
metric ton. Apart from
natural gas and crude oil,
coal is mainly used as fuel
in the brick-fields and at
the Boropukuria Thermal
Power Plant. Moreover, power
is also being generated by
using solar home system in
off grid areas. In addition
there are some poultry and
dairy farms in which bio-gas
plants are being set up and
with this energy, power can
be generated and is also
used for cooking. The amount
of power generation from
such plants is currently
about 1 MW. Steps have been
taken to generate
electricity by Bio-Mass
Gasification Method in the
country. We also have a
bright potential to produce
electricity from wind and
mini-hydro or wave-energy.
Recently, solar power based
irrigation pump has been
used in a number of areas of
the country. Its wide use
will lessen the pressure on
diesel and electricity.
Non-renewable
energy
The
proven reserve of natural
gas which is the principal
source of nonrenewable
energy of the country is
gradually depleting. The
supply of gas as a primary
source of energy will be
dried out soon if immediate
steps are not taken for
exploration of new gas
fields and extraction
therefrom. In the use of
commercial energy, the
notable ones include the
following:
-
Natural
gas
-
Oil
from minerals and other
sources
-
Coal
and coal like substance
-
Compressed
natural gas (CNG)
-
Natural
Gas Liquid (NGL)
Renewable
Energy
In
our country renewable energy
such as biomass, solar power
and wind power are being
used since time immemorial.
Especially in areas which
are outside gas coverage,
usage of biomass for cooking
and solar power and wind for
drying of different grains
as well as clothes are known
to all. However, we are
still lagging far behind in
the scientific use of such
energy. Moreover, the use of
renewable energy has become
popular world wide in view
of depleting reserve of
non-renewable fossil fuel.
Renewable energy is
environment-friendly. At
present, the different
categories of renewable
energy that are being used
in limited ways in our
country are as follows:
-
Hydro-electricity
-
Solar
power generation using
solar rays
-
Wind-mill
power generation using
wind power
-
Production
of bio-gas using waste
-
Electricity
produced by Biomass
Gasification Method
using wood, rice husk,
etc.
|
