Meghna Group wants to raise rooftop solar power capacity to 110 Megawatts

Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) currently has a rooftop solar power generation capacity of 65 megawatts. The company plans to implement solar power projects with an additional 45 megawatts of capacity at seven new industrial plants.

If these projects are implemented, the group's rooftop solar power generation capacity will rise to 110 megawatts.

MGI Chairman and Managing Director Mostafa Kamal highlighted this information during a panel discussion at an event titled "Green Dialogue: Climate Change and Economic Restructuring" organized by daily Bonik Barta on Thursday, at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon, in the capital.

He said, "There is no scope to view environmental protection and economic development separately. Industrial production must be increased, and employment must be created. At the same time, we must become more efficient in the use of energy and water, reduce waste, and cut carbon emissions."

The Meghna Group chairman said, "Environment-friendly industrialization is not just a matter of social responsibility. It is part of long-term economic capability, productivity, and addressing future risks. Among Meghna Group's environment-friendly activities, paper and plastic recycling is one of the most notable."

Mentioning the launch of a paper recycling factory around 2007, he said that discarded paper and cartons are being collected from various regions of the country and used again in production. Used plastic bottles and other plastic waste are also being collected and recycled. Plastic granules are made from these materials and used to produce new products. Some recycled materials are used in the group's own factories, and the rest are supplied to other industrial establishments.

Highlighting the use of recycled plastic in producing export-oriented jumbo bags, Mostafa Kamal said, "The use of recycled materials is being increased according to the demand of the international market. If waste can be utilized properly, it is possible to protect the environment and gain economic benefits at the same time."

Fifty-seven industrial establishments of Meghna Group are in operation. The MGI chairman said there are plans to launch seven more industrial establishments. He said, "By-products from production at various factories are being used for other purposes. There are initiatives to use some by-products in making animal feed and some as fuel."

He also highlighted the extraction of oil from rice husk at an automatic rice mill in Bogura and the use of the remaining material in animal feed production.

Speaking about waste management in the chemical industry, the industrialist said, "Necessary processing arrangements have been put in place so that production by-products are not directly dumped into rivers or the environment. Through this, along with utilizing waste, opportunities have been created to produce and supply various chemical products for domestic industry."

He said, "We have an initiative to set up a new flour production factory with funding from international development partners. According to the calculations of the relevant project, this will make it possible to reduce carbon emissions by about 8,200 tons per year."

MGI Chairman also spoke about new investment in environment-friendly steel production. He said, "Some conventional methods of steel production in Bangladesh carry the risk of emitting huge amounts of smoke and carbon. Taking this reality into consideration, a plan has been taken to build Meghna Group's new steel factory based on environment-friendly technology. The project has financing from the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)."

"About 90 Percent of this factory's raw materials are planned to be collected from scrap steel or used iron and steel. Steel will be produced by melting scrap using electric furnace technology," he Added.

Noting that initiatives have been taken to plant trees every year to create a green environment in industrial areas, Mostafa Kamal said, "There are instructions to plant trees every year in our Economic Zones and various industrial establishments. Tree planting and tree care are also being included in the plans of new industrial establishments."

"This year we planted 80,000 trees. We believe it is important to ensure a green environment alongside industrialization. Planting trees on factory premises, along roads, industrial areas, and surrounding vicinities helps improve the environment." However, in tree planting, matters such as site selection, choosing suitable species, and regular care must also be considered seriously.

In his speech, he called on everyone to come forward from their own positions to leave a livable earth for future generations.