Tk 46,000 cr spent on power subsidy in 8 months: Energy minister
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku said the government provided a subsidy of Tk 46,000 crore in the power sector over the last eight months to keep electricity supply normal in the country.
He added, “Even then, the government is placing emphasis on solar power as an alternative to tackle the ongoing power and energy crisis. A target has been set to generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity from solar power before the start of next year’s summer.”
Iqbal made these remarks at a meeting in the conference room of the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner on Thursday.
He noted, “Due to the impact of war, the power and energy crisis has become severe worldwide. Bangladesh is not outside of this either. There is no alternative to increasing the use of renewable energy to tackle the crisis.”
To implement the target, the energy minister urged people to step forward in solar power generation at the individual level alongside government initiatives. He said it is possible to generate electricity by installing solar panels on rooftops. The government will buy additional electricity generated at the individual level at a rate of Tk 10 per unit.
He directed government officials of all levels present at the meeting to take necessary initiatives in the matter. In his view, if solar power generation can be increased, addressing the power crisis will be easier on one hand, while the progress of the agriculture-dependent economy can also be sustained on the other hand.
