NGOs demand allocation for solar and wind power instead of LNG power plants and terminals
In the joint initiative of ISDE-Bangladesh, Coastal Life and Environment Alliance (CLEAN) and Bangladesh External Debt Alliance, it was informed that about 55 thousand crore taka worth of energy is imported every year for power generation. A large part of this goes to LNG imports. The government has sanctioned 11 LNG power plants in the last four years despite gas shortages in operating plants. Of these, four are under construction and seven are awaiting construction.
The government started importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from 2018 to meet the gas shortage. In the financial year 2018-19, two private LNG terminals were constructed for which service charges of four and a half million dollars per day have to be paid. Besides, per cubic meter of LNG import costs Tk 79.33 but it is being sold to power sector at Tk 14.75. As a result, the loss per cubic meter is Tk 64.58. If LNG cannot be supplied, the power plants under construction will sit idle. Even if there is no electricity, the government has to pay the capacity charge. In the financial year 2022-23, private power producers were paid Tk 17,650 crore capacity charges. With the increase in idle power plants, the capacity charge is also increasing exponentially.
After the Russia-Ukraine war and the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, the supply of LNG and petroleum is becoming increasingly difficult. In this situation, if new LNG terminals and LNG power plants are built, it can become a thorn in the throat of the country's economy. In addition, fuel imports of about $6 billion per year are putting unbearable pressure on foreign exchange reserves. With increasing pressure of energy import and capacity charges on the national budget, the allocation to the most essential sectors like agriculture, health, communication and education is decreasing, which is having a negative impact on overall public welfare and human resource development.
During production, transportation and consumption, LNG emits an average of 950 grams of carbon dioxide per unit of electricity generation, which is close to that of coal. On the other hand, generating electricity using solar or wind energy produces zero emissions. In addition, solar or wind power does not require any fuel to produce, which can save at least two billion foreign dollars per year. As capacity charge is not given in the renewable energy sector, the possibility of smuggling abroad can also come down to zero.
On Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Halda Conference Hall of the city's tourist hotel Saikat, the executive director of ISDE Bangladesh held a discussion meeting on LNG Expansion in Bangladesh jointly organized by non-governmental development organization ISDE Bangladesh, Bangladesh External Debt Action Coalition (BWGED), Coastal Life and Environment Action Coalition (CLEAN). In the exchange meeting chaired by the Central Committee Vice President SM Najer Hossain, the key contributors were Bangladesh External Debt Action Coalition (BWGED), Member Secretary Hasan Mehdi; Program Coordinator of Coastal Life and Environment Action Coalition (CLEAN) Mahbubul Alam Prince; Campaign Coordinator Sheikh Bahlul Alam.
Eminent women leaders and President of ADAB Chattogram Jasmine Sultana Paru, former Councilor of Chattogram City Corporation Abida Azad, Executive Director of CRCD Kazi Iqbal Bahar Saberi, Executive Director of Banoful Rezia Begum, Dristi’s Helal Uddin Mahbub, Coastal Social Development Organization, Mireshwarai participated in the discussion. Executive Director Zobair Faruk Liton, Executive Director of Tarna Trust Potia Md Solaiman, PCDS Shampa Chowdhury, Executive Director of Palli Pragati Sanstha (PPS) Chandanaish Nurul Haque Chowdhury, Ilma’s Forkan Mahmud, Nari Oikya Bangladesh Jannatul Ferdous, Samata Women Development Agency Kornphuli Momena Akter, Shaili Sitakunda Chief Executive Nasir Uddin Anik, Ishiqa Foundation Zahurul Islam, CSDF Project Coordinator Shampa K Nahar, CAB Youth Group President Abu Hanif Noman and others.
The speakers also said that due to last year's Cyclone Mokha, when the LNG terminal of Maheshkhali was damaged, gas supply to the entire country including Chattogram was stopped for 3 days. People's livelihoods and industries were disrupted. On the one hand, LNG has to be imported by spending a huge amount of foreign currency. Again, LNG is causing extreme environmental disaster in the fossil fuel sector of the country. Which is causing serious damage to the country's overall economy and environment. Speakers at the discussion meeting strongly demanded the government to immediately cancel the proposed LNG power plant and terminal and allocate equal amount of money for solar and wind power.
