Parliamentary body for 3-month fuel reserve, energy diversification

Highlights
- Committee recommends
three-month strategic fuel reserve
- Calls for
diversification of fuel import sources
- Urges faster
implementation of Dhaka–Chattogram pipeline SPM and ERL-2
- Emphasises LNG
renewable energy and rooftop solar expansion
- Flags risks from
global price shocks and supply disruptions
- Opposition adds 10
recommendations on demand forecasting and diversification
A special parliamentary committee has recommended expanding
Bangladesh's strategic fuel reserves to ensure a minimum three-month storage
capacity and diversifying import sources to strengthen the country's energy
security.
The committee also made 12
recommendations to address the recent energy situation and prevent similar
crises in the future.
It emphasised introducing comprehensive digital monitoring
of the supply system, expanding the use of renewable energy, and accelerating
the implementation of key infrastructure projects.
Power and Energy Minister Iqbal
Hasan Mahmud presented the committee's report in parliament today (7 June).
The report also incorporated 10
recommendations submitted by opposition members.
The committee stressed the need to
increase the use of LNG and renewable energy as alternative energy sources. It
also recommended the swift implementation of the Dhaka-Chattogram pipeline, the
Single Point Mooring (SPM) project and the second unit of Eastern Refinery
(ERL-2).
In addition, the committee
highlighted the importance of making rooftop solar installations mandatory and
ensuring regular monitoring of their effectiveness. It also advised adopting
necessary plans and effective measures to reduce system losses in electricity
distribution.
According to the report, pressure
on the country's fuel supply system has been created by rising international
fuel prices, the war situation in the Middle East, disruptions to shipping
through the Strait of Hormuz, instability in global supply chains, and domestic
factors such as panic buying, illegal stockpiling and black-market activities.
As a result, concerns and uncertainty have emerged among the transport,
agriculture and industrial sectors, as well as the general public.
The committee recommended adopting
an integrated plan for power generation from a variety of sources, including
oil, gas, coal, solar and wind energy.
The report stated that a study
should be conducted to determine whether opportunities can be created for
private companies, alongside Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), to import
fuel products.
It also recommended strengthening
public awareness campaigns to reduce irrational stockpiling and panic buying
during periods of crisis.
According to the report, in the
context of volatility in global energy markets and prevailing geopolitical
realities, there is a pressing need to make the country's long-term energy
policy, infrastructure and supply system more stable, diversified and
technology-driven.
The special committee believes that
the recent situation has created an important opportunity to reassess
Bangladesh's energy security framework.
Opposition's 10 recommendations
The opposition proposed conducting
demand assessments for power and energy through an independent committee of
experts free from political influence.
According to them, realistic planning is needed to avoid exaggerated demand
forecasts.
They also recommended maximising
the utilisation of coal-fired power plants, increasing domestic gas production,
undertaking new gas exploration both onshore and offshore, continuing crude oil
exploration, and accelerating the implementation of the SPM and Eastern
Refinery-2 projects.
The opposition's recommendations
also included large-scale expansion of solar power, assessing the feasibility
of micro-hydro projects in the hill regions, exploring the potential for
river-flow-based power generation, and reducing the use of government vehicles
during energy crises.
They further proposed research into
the potential of hydrogen fuel technology, biogas and waste-to-energy
generation. According to the opposition, it is essential to diversify the power
and energy sector and reduce excessive dependence on any single energy source.
On 26 April, the 10-member special
committee comprising parliament members from both the government and opposition
was formed to review the country's energy security and determine future actions
in the national interest.
















