Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today announced a series of government initiatives aimed at promoting rooftop solar power generation. These measures, including financial incentives and preferential tariffs, are part of efforts to expand renewable energy use and tackle the country's ongoing energy crisis.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Prime Minister stated that the government will purchase electricity supplied to the national grid from rooftop solar systems installed within the next six months at a rate of Taka 10.15 per unit. This incentive is designed to provide a financial boost in addition to the existing bulk rate. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a question-answer session in parliament, responding to a supplementary query from lawmaker Nilufar Chowdhury Moni.
Further details revealed that solar power equipment, such as solar panels, inverters, and batteries, will be exempted from various duties and taxes, subject to certain conditions. These include customs duty, regulatory duty, supplementary duty, advance tax, and an additional 2 percent advance income tax. The Prime Minister highlighted that the average cost of generating one unit of electricity is Taka 6-7, suggesting that this initiative could yield up to a 45 percent profit margin, comprising a 40 percent profit margin and a 5 percent premium.
This financial incentive will be available for up to three years, according to the Prime Minister. Additionally, the government has embarked on a National Rooftop Solar Initiative, targeting the installation of solar systems on rooftops of government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and other significant establishments.
Prime Minister Rahman also mentioned that the guidelines for implementing this program have been finalized and special allocations have been made for various ministries, divisions, and agencies. Rooftop solar systems have already been installed at the offices of all deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners nationwide.
Moreover, steps are being taken to harness electricity from other renewable sources like hydropower, wind, and waste. The Prime Minister expressed optimism that these initiatives, once implemented, will address the energy crisis and boost the use of renewable energy in the country.
The parliament session commenced at 3:30 pm, presided over by Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram. During the half-hour session allocated for the Prime Minister, he addressed a total of eight written questions, responding directly to four written questions and six supplementary questions.