Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday announced a series of initiatives aimed at promoting renewable energy, including financial incentives for rooftop solar power, as part of the government's strategy to address the nation's energy crisis. Replying to a question from MP Nilofer Chowdhury Moni, the Prime Minister revealed that essential solar power equipment like solar panels, inverters, and batteries will be conditionally exempted from various duties and taxes, including customs duty and advance income tax.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the government plans to purchase electricity supplied to the national grid from rooftop solar systems at Tk 10.15 per unit over the next six months. This incentive will provide an estimated profit margin of up to 45 percent for suppliers, combining a 40 percent profit with a 5 percent premium based on an average production cost of Tk 6-7 per unit. The incentive scheme is set to be applicable for three years.
The Prime Minister also revealed the launch of a National Rooftop Solar Programme aimed at installing solar systems on government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and other significant facilities. A guideline for implementation has been prepared, and special allocations have been distributed to various governmental bodies to facilitate the initiative. Rooftop solar systems have already been installed at the offices of all deputy and divisional commissioners. Additionally, measures are underway to harness electricity from hydropower, wind, and waste.
In response to a supplementary question from Cumilla-10 MP Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan, Tarique mentioned that a 10-year plan for the power and energy sectors has been prepared. The plan, which is still undergoing examinations and assessments, will soon be presented to Parliament and the nation by the Energy Ministry. The strategy aims to develop these sectors over the next decade, aligning with the goal of transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
Addressing a query from MP Sabikun Nahar Munni regarding open-pit coal mining, the Prime Minister stated that the government might consider extracting coal from Fulbari to alleviate the energy crisis. Acknowledging the high quality of Fulbari coal, he emphasized that any decision would consider the environmental impact, residents' welfare, and agricultural land. The government aims to ensure that affected people are resettled properly and can benefit from the project.
The question-answer session commenced at 3:30 pm, with the first 30 minutes dedicated to questions for the Prime Minister. He addressed four written and six supplementary questions during the session.