1MW Rooftop Solar Plant Opens at Bangladesh Cable Industries

Khulna, September 9, Wednesday: Bangladesh must expand the use of renewable energy to meet electricity demand, reduce energy costs and protect the environment, said Fakir Mahbub Anam, Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Minister for Science and Technology.

He also called on government and state-owned organisations to utilise unused rooftops and other available facilities for solar power generation.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the inauguration of a 1MW rooftop solar power plant installed at the premises of Bangladesh Cable Industries Limited (BAKESHIL) in Khulna on Wednesday.

Fakir Mahbub Anam said the government is prioritising energy conservation and environmentally sustainable development. Installing solar power systems at state-owned industrial facilities is part of that initiative.

Such projects, he said, would reduce electricity costs for institutions while easing pressure on the national grid.

The minister said the government has announced a six-month tax exemption on imported solar power equipment and special incentives for surplus electricity generated from solar installations to encourage renewable energy generation and consumption.

Under the government’s decision, customers supplying surplus electricity generated by rooftop solar systems to the national grid will receive a special incentive price of Tk10.50 per unit, he said.

“We must integrate environmental protection and energy efficiency with our development. There is an opportunity to use every promising rooftop and facility in the country for solar power generation,” the minister said.

He stressed the importance of turning government institutions into energy-efficient and sustainable organisations through such projects.

Praising the initiative of Bangladesh Cable Industries, the minister said practical projects of this nature could serve as a model for other government and state-owned organisations. He also called for further expansion of solar generation capacity in the future.

The event was chaired by Bilkis Jahan Rimi, Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division and Chairman of Bangladesh Cable Industries Limited.

In her remarks, Rimi said expanding renewable energy use is consistent with the government’s sustainable development goals. The rooftop solar plant at Bangladesh Cable Industries would reduce electricity expenditure while creating an opportunity to increase the use of environmentally friendly energy.

She said such initiatives would play an important role in improving energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy use across government institutions. Solar power use would be expanded further based on future needs and potential, she added.

Special guests included Nazrul Islam Manju, administrator of Khulna City Corporation; Md Abdullah Harun, Divisional Commissioner of Khulna; and Huai Jahanat, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Khulna.

Md Shahidul Islam, Managing Director of Bangladesh Cable Industries Limited, delivered the welcome address. He outlined the objectives of installing the rooftop solar plant, its generation capacity and its expected benefits.

At the beginning of the programme, the chief guest formally inaugurated the 1MW rooftop solar plant. He later planted a sapling on the premises of Bangladesh Cable Industries.

Tk5.15 crore project

Bangladesh Cable Industries Limited said the 1MW rooftop solar plant was installed at a cost of Tk51,523,715.

The plant is expected to save approximately Tk15 lakh in electricity bills every month. After meeting the company’s 900kW electricity demand, the remaining generated power will be supplied to the national grid, officials said.

They expect the investment cost to be recovered within four years through electricity savings. The surplus power supplied to the national grid is also expected to provide additional economic and energy benefits to the state-owned organisation.

//DBTech/INJU/SME/FOEH//