Originally posted in The Financial Express on 26 May 2022
A planned “integrated energy-power sector master plan” is likely to be ready by November this year.
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), a Japanese firm, gave such an indication when its team met State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at his ministry office in the city on Wednesday, reports UNB.
The Tokyo-based consulting firm has been working to prepare the integrated master plan following an agreement between the Bangladesh government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed on March 15 in 2021.
Ichiro Kutani, the head of the IEEJ team, informed that his firm has planned to submit a draft copy of the proposed integrated plan by October this year to facilitate open discussion on it.
After a meeting with the stakeholders, the integrated master plan will be submitted in November, he told the state minister.
JICA power and energy advisor Toshiyuki Kobayash and Bangladesh representative Taro Katsurai were present on the occasion.
Official sources said this is for the first time, the government has moved to formulate an integrated master plan comprising both power and energy issues.
Previously, separate master plans were framed for the power sector and energy sector and there was little coordination between the two sectors.
Nasrul Hamid told the IEEJ team that the integrated plan should be the basis of sustainable infrastructure in the power and energy sectors which will ensure a balance between the demand and supply under an efficient management.
The fuel mix strategy should have a reflection of current and future energy sources. It should outline a pattern of consumption in different sectors including agriculture, he added.
Official sources said the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR ) has moved to formulate the integrated energy and power sector master plan with a focus on the “3E+S” concept, after responding to the suggestions of energy experts.
According to sources, ‘3E+S’ concept will be pursued in preparing the new plan for ensuring ‘Energy Security’, ‘Economic Efficiency’, and ‘Environment’ while focusing on ‘Safety’.
As per the contract, the Japanese firm is supposed to complete the formation of the plan with a timeframe of 30 months from the signing of the agreement.
JICA, which has been funding the entire project through its grant under a deal with the MPEMR, said that in view of the need for a long-term low-carbon energy policy, it will support the formulation of the integrated energy and power master plan.
Official sources said the JICA consultant will study the country’s 8th Five-year Development Plan, gas sector master plan 2017, and revise the power system master plant 2016 and other relevant policies/plans.
It will prepare the prospects for economic development and energy demand forecast by 2050 with a focus on energy efficiency and conservation.
