Bangladesh plans to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar power during the government’s current term as rising fossil fuel imports and energy subsidies place mounting pressure on the country’s finances, the energy minister said.
The minister said the government spent $2 billion importing petroleum and other energy resources within two months of taking office.
“This is a massive pressure on the reserves of any country,” the minister said in Bengali.
The minister blamed much of the financial strain on energy infrastructure developed during the previous 17 years, saying it relied heavily on imported fuels. As import costs rise, electricity generation becomes more expensive, requiring the government to provide thousands of crores of taka in subsidies, the minister said.
The government hopes its proposed solar expansion will reduce fuel imports and allow more public money to be directed toward other development programs.
“We are planning 10,000 megawatts of solar energy in our term,” the minister said. “If we generate 10,000 megawatts, our energy imports will decline, and the surplus money we gain can be used in other development sectors.”
Officials plan to expand solar generation through cluster-based installations and net-metering systems. The minister urged nongovernmental organizations to install panels on village rooftops, saying they could recover payments through net metering while expanding renewable energy access in rural areas.
The minister said funding is available for renewable energy projects, including World Bank financing accessible through commercial banks.
The solar initiative is part of a broader government effort under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to establish a social welfare system through family, farmer and health cards.
Liquefied petroleum gas cylinders were recently added to the family card program. Participants purchase gas at government-approved concessional prices, with the subsidy credited directly to their bank accounts.
The minister also highlighted small-scale solar innovation, citing an electric three-wheeler driver who uses a rooftop panel and two reconditioned batteries. The driver charges one battery at home while using the other to operate his vehicle, switching them each day.