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I was going to copy a couple of bits from this article but there is no real point, I have copied the first paragraph, but after that it’s easier for you to just read the whole thing, it really does highlight what a mess the energy situation is in!!

https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/103it5vzrl

The required amount of electricity cannot be generated and supplied resulting in a large part of the country outside Dhaka regularly.

As Bangladesh Power Development Board is unable to clear dues of most of the power plants, they (power plants) cannot purchase adequate fuel due to fund crunch. As a result, these power plants are unable to generate electricity.

The country has a capacity to generate more than 24,000mw of electricity against a demand of 14000-16000mw of electricity.

But the powerplants are unable to generate 14000-16000mw of electricity.

Besides, mismanagement and waste is rampant.

As per agreements, Bangladesh Power Development Board purchases the electricity of all power plants and then sells it to power distribution company at a bulk price, which has been increased twice over the past year.

Yet, the government provides subsidies to meet the deficit in power sector. According to the Power Division sources, the finance ministry owes Tk 280 billion to the BPDB till April.

As the allocation of subsidy is not disbursed regularly, the BPDB owes Tk 250 billion to the power plants.

In the meantime, the BPDB demands Tk 50-60 billion from the finance division every month.

Bangladesh: Thermal coal imports surge 75% m-o-m in Jul'23

https://www.coalmint.com/intel/bangladesh-thermal-coal-imports-surge-75-m-o-m-in-jul23-24668

This is absolutely crazy, when they could be using their own coal and saving themselves a fortune!!!

What a financial mess Bangladesh now find themselves in and it’s all through bad decision making at the very top, giving the green light to Phulbari may help the situation long term and reduce expenditure on imports, but short term there really is no easy fix!!!

Rampal thermal power plant in Bagerhat has stopped production for the third time in a month over a lack of coal.

"Letters of Credit to import coal could not be opened because of a shortage of dollars."

Bangladesh has the capacity to generate around 24,000 MW of electricity, but dwindling dollar reserves have forced the country to limit imports of fuel for the power stations.

https://bdnews24.com/economy/wzsfgtl9d1

Https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/

Rampal thermal power plant halted production due to coal shortage since early Sunday (July 30).

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL) Deputy General Manager Anwarul Azim confirmed the matter.

https://www.risingbd.com/english/risingbd-special/news/97621

Https://www.energybangla.com/govt-paying-320m-a-week-for-power-energy/

Pressure building!!!!

In a series of interviews conducted by New Age Senior Correspondent Moinul Haque, business leaders from various sectors have come forward to express their shared concerns about the mounting challenges they face. Their discussions shed light on the detrimental effects of the ongoing dollar crisis and energy scarcity, which have significantly impacted their business operations and led to a substantial rise in production costs. The crisis has directly hampered their ability to maintain competitive pricing and achieve profitability, with imported raw materials and essential equipment experiencing skyrocketing prices due to volatile exchange rates. The business leaders emphasise that government support is crucial in mitigating these challenges and preventing negative consequences

https://www.newagebd.net/article/207724/business-leaders-sound-alarm-on-challenges-urge-govt-support

Https://www.thedailystar.net/news/asia/india/news/fossil-fuels-roadmap-g20-energy-ministers-fail-reach-agreement-3376836?amp

Interesting read …,

https://bnn.network/breaking-news/climate-environment/japans-pursuit-of-cleaner-coal-a-leap-forward-or-a-step-back/

Bangladesh currently has dozens of power plants out of operation, because of fuel shortages or technical problems.

The fuel shortage is due to the dollar crisis that has existed for over a year.

https://www.newagebd.net/article/207607/heatwave-grips-dhaka

The whole article is worth a read and sets the situation out very well……

“If the country can have an Indemnity Act for the supply of electricity from private sector power plants, surely the State can get a move on extraction of coal from proven domestic reserves with another Act that will expedite coal exploration on a war footing?”

“Things are bound to get more and more complicated with the authorities' inaction regarding diversification of primary fuel supply and continuing the "go slow" policy on greater domestic exploration of primary fuels.”

“How much more pain can the economy endure before something changes at policy level? ”

“Policymakers need to stop making excuses and start delivering on domestic coal (and start drilling exploratory gas wells onshore) while there is still time to salvage the situation. It is not only domestic industry that is watching, prospective foreign investors also are.”

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/tall-orders-from-rmg-sector

“The country cannot buy coal either, which accounts for 11 per cent of its current power generation capacity, due to dollar shortages.”

https://www.newagebd.net/article/207526/no-respite-from-power-shortage-on-weekend#google_vignette

“The country's power generation heavily relies on coal, liquid fuel, and gas, with a significant portion of primary energy being imported. However, due to the ongoing economic crisis, the government is struggling to meet the high costs of energy imports in line with the increasing demand. Consequently, many power stations, both public and private, are facing challenges in electricity generation. The dues owed by power plants to the government are escalating on a daily basis.”

“Speaking to The Business Post, SM Wazed Ali Sardar, Member (Generation), BPDB said, “The government is making maximum efforts to enhance power generation, but there are some limitations that we are actively working to resolve in the near future.”

https://businesspostbd.com/power-energy/load-shedding-back-to-square-one

Yep, that’s just what I was thinking!

Https://www.newagebd.net/article/207452/ex-imed-dg-suspended-for-exposing-power-sector-weaknesses

Https://www.newagebd.net/article/207365/power-shortage-nears-2000mw-amid-fresh-heatwave

“Secondly, we want uninterrupted energy supply, especially from renewable sources. Gas, coal and basic energy supplies are expected to boom following your breakthrough decision. There will be no problem if local coal and gas are coupled with solar power and windmills in the Bay of Bengal.”

“Now, I would like to focus again on skilled manpower and uninterrupted energy supply to become a prosperous nation within next five years Insha Allah. May Allah allow Sheikh Hasina to form government again and make us a prosperous nation. Assalamu Alaikum.”

https://www.daily-sun.com/printversion//details/700710/Bangladesh-achieves-unprecedented-development-in-last-15yrs

“Bangladeshi energy planners went about it entirely the wrong way. Import-based coal for generating electricity was a nonstarter from the very beginning. Leading energy experts of the country had been warning over a decade that this folly of a notion that Bangladesh could generate electricity using millions of tonnes of coal imported from abroad would light up the country for generations to come.”

“Extracting domestic coal remains off the discussion table. Why? Exploring the most potential areas for on-shore natural gas remains off the table. Why? Will those questions ever be answered by our energy planners?”

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/importing-coal-for-power-a-losing-proposition

“Moderating the conference, FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin suggested that the government conduct exploration for gas and coal for ensuring adequate and uninterrupted energy supply.”

https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/political-stability-prerequisite-smart-bangladesh-3369996?amp