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Early local govt elections should be high on govt agenda

https://www.newagebd.net/post/editorial/243097/early-local-govt-elections-should-be-high-on-govt-agenda

This has to be a positive

China is keen to work with the interim government and will continue its support to continue projects works funded by the country, says Yao Wen

https://www.daily-sun.com/post/762863

Looks like the right questions are being asked, and the realism of how much they’ve been overpaying for power is about to come out!

How Adani power deal makes electricity costlier

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/energy/how-adani-power-deal-makes-electricity-costlier-920576?amp

Besides, it is very much important to conduct necessary scrutiny of the costs involved in the implementation of large-scale power projects in public sector within the scope of government to government agreements in the past. Media have been revealing financial irregularities in the implementation of 'mega projects' and the lack of transparency. For instance, media report revealed that implementation of four large coal fired power plants in the country involved a cost of about Tk. 1.25 trillion. Of that amount, allegedly, Tk.617 billion was either wasted or misappropriated. Only professional assessments may find out the actual cost of large power plant projects that were implemented bypassing the competitive bidding processes.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/power-sector-deserves-priority-attention

Understandably, the interim government has its limitation in repealing all the black laws. But if any of those is the number one candidate, it surely is this special law allowing unlimited favour for the quick rental power plants. Coal-fired power plants already in operation and completed recently cannot go into production of power simply because of the shortage of coal. The total generation capacity of grid-based installed power plants was 26,844 megawatts by March this year. Leaving the thermal power plants idle and subsidising costly imported oil and gas for rental power plants were not without an ulterior motive. It sustained the dubious process of minting money illegally for a select few.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/editorial/doing-away-with-black-laws

Scrap, amend key energy laws, demand energy experts

The law allows awarding any companies without tender any power and energy projects, including the import of natural gas, coal, liquefied natural gas and petroleum products, as well as the extraction of mineral resources. The law also covers electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects.

https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/242863/scrap-amend-key-energy-laws-demand-energy-experts

The ministry assumes that Dr Yunus will brief the diplomats about the country’s current situation, outline the future course of action and present the interim government’s position on various issues.

https://en.somoynews.tv/news/2024-08-17/W3XFB5R7

Energy experts, economists, BPDB officers want 2010 special act for power sector to be scrapped

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/energy-experts-economists-bpdb-officers-want-2010-special-act-for-power-sector-to-be-scrapped

I wonder if he was involved in Phulbari open pit mining work originally….. Probably 🤔

Dr Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan

An expert in energy policy, Dr Fawzul Kabir Khan served as the Secretary of the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources from 2007 to 2008.

He has extensive experience in tax and regulatory issues, infrastructure financing, and renewable energy.

He has worked with various international organizations, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Dr Fawzul Kabir is also a former faculty member at North South University and currently serves as an independent director at United Power.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/amp/bangladesh/government-affairs/354981/introducing-four-new-advisers-to-interim

Every nation strives for energy self-dependence, regardless of the source of energy. In the case of Bangladesh, it was fortunate to have gas and coal reserves - but these are finite resources, regardless of the reserve size. Yet, we have witnessed the obtuseness of policymakers in making energy plans that was focused on making the country import-dependent while disregarding the very basics of energy-efficiency, curbing wastage and unbridled corruption that would overwhelm the state of finances within a short period of time.

The current government has landed on this mess and it must tackle the severe energy crisis. Much has already been written on the formation of a banking commission to deal with the runaway corruption in the financial sector. It is time to form a proper energy audit commission comprising renowned energy experts of the country and people who understand the energy affair. The task of this commission would be to sift through the evidence of how and where subsidies went, who got what under "capacity charge" and precisely, what is the actual power generation capacity of the various power plants commissioned. Only with such data in hand, can a proper energy policy be formulated and the road to recovery may begin. Recovery will be both painful and time-consuming but this can no longer wait.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/its-time-to-form-an-energy-audit-commission

This was the article posted, of him on an interview in Oct 2022…He makes some really good positive points

https://en.prothomalo.com/opinion/interview/zrkkanwbav

Steve, take a read of the articles that were posted earlier today mate

Digit4lis, I totally agree, I am actually quite surprised that the interim government are pulling things together so fast and so well, from the new appointments made so far, I can’t see any negatives for us yet….

So good to see all the positive press today as well…. This might just all start coming together sooner than any of us could of imagined or hoped for at this time last week …..

Well its nice to see a few buying this afternoon mate, so hopefully we have hit the bottom

So former power secretary Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, is sworn in to interim government

From reading the article posted, this has to be excellent news Pappi… Looks like this interim government are making some good decisions, and are not hanging about either…

Good to see ….

Bangladesh student protesters plan new party to cement their revolution

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-student-protesters-plan-new-party-cement-their-revolution-2024-08-16/

62 directors removed from power, energy entities’ boards

Looks like Nasrul Hamid has been removed as a director

https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/242707/62-directors-removed-from-power-energy-entities-boards

The country, especially the rural areas, is experiencing frequent power cuts over the last couple of days due to insufficient electricity production from coal-based power plants, alongside the prolonged delay in increasing LNG regasification facilities.

Officials said they have been getting insufficient electricity from the coal-based power plants due to various technical issues, while gas shortage became a regular scenario.

The PDB data shows that currently around 2,300MW -- or one third of total coal power capacity of 6,604MW -- remain idle.

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/power-outage-hits-rural-areas-3678481

There was a few articles that said that she was going to doze, but with this threat hanging over her, I doubt she will be now, but her son Joy has also said in a couple of interviews that he may think about joining Bangladesh politics… it’s a situation that changes daily at the moment as the interim government uncover more of what has gone on in the past…