The government has cut the allocation for power and energy by 13% year-on-year.

Power and energy sector received an allocation of Tk 30,317 crore in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-25, which was Tk 34,819 crore in the previous FY2023-24.

Addressing the parliament, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali said the government is attaching highest importance and top priority to the development of the power sector.

“Plans have been taken to increase the power generation capacity to 40 thousand mega watt by 2030 and 60 megawatt by 2041. There are plans to increase the power transmission lines to 24 thousand circuit kilometers by modernising the grid,” he said.

In 2009, the power generation capacity was only 4,942 MW, which has now increased to 30,277 MW (including the captive and renewable energy), according to the budget speech.

Currently, 27 power plants with a capacity of 9,144 MW are under construction. Per capita power generation increased from 220 kilowatt per hour to 602 KWh. Following the construction of 7,246 circuits per kilometre of transmission lines in the last 15 years, the total number of transmission lines has increased to 15,246 circuit per kilometre.

The total length of distribution lines stands at 6.43 lakh km. Electricity distribution system loss has been decreased from 14.33 percent in 2009 to 7.65 percent in 2023. Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction project at Ishwardi in Pabna is under implementation.

Finance Minister has proposed Tk100 crore to encourage its development and research on renewable energy for sustainable future.

Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, director of Centre for Energy Research (CER) at United International University, has appreciated special allocation for promoting innovation in energy sector.

“Around 95 percent research can create impact. Besides, the government should concentrate on state-run power generation to reduce private stakeholders. When the fuel price will increase, the private companies will stop generation and the people will affect badly,” Shahriar Ahmed told Daily Sun.  

The researcher hopes that Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC) will maintain transparency on implementation of innovation fund.