Govt to introduce solar irrigation in agriculture sector: Nasrul Hamid

With sincere efforts, the government will introduce solar irrigation by reducing the number of diesel irrigation pumps in the agriculture sector.

“There are about 1.2 million (12 lakh) diesel irrigation pumps in the agriculture sector across the country that will be transformed into solar irrigation,” State Minister for Power and Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS on Saturday.

“To combat the effects of climate change, the government's target is to produce 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from renewable energy by 2030,” he added.

The state minister said the government has a roadmap to increase power from renewable energy sources up to 12,000 MW in the future, reports BSS.

“A plan has been taken to generate 40 per cent power from clean energy by 2041 and import about 9,000 MW under regional and sub-regional cooperation from neighbouring countries," he said.

But experts said that lack of land and investment are the big challenges for expanding renewable energy and electricity generation in the country.

They mentioned that developed countries have been pressuring developing countries to reduce fossil fuel and increase renewable energy in order to deal with the risks of climate change.

Bangladesh is now enjoying 100 per cent electrification due to the visionary and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Electricity has reached all houses, from inaccessible hills to isolated char areas, successfully, the experts said.

The state minister said in such a situation, the government has required long-term plan to reduce coal fired power plants and increase renewable energy in the country, adding, “Under the energy transition, solar power is being prioritized in agriculture instead of diesel irrigation pumps.”

According to an analysis of the government plan in renewable energy sector, the production target from 51 projects in the short and medium term is 3748 MW. Out of the target, 647 MW will be in the public sector and 3101 MW from solar, wind and waste based power in the private sector solar.

The government's long-term plan emphasises importing renewable energy from neighbouring countries. The prospective generation target is 8299 MW from 74 ongoing projects.

Major portion of the power (6493 MW) will come from the private sector. However, experts mentioned that investment, modernisation of grid lines as a challenge to implement the plan.

Apart from this, construction works are going on for 100 MW Solar Power Plant at Madarganj in Jamalpur, 68 MW Solar Park in Sirajganj, 50 MW Solar Power Plant Construction Project in Sonagazi in Feni, 30 MW (AC) Solar Park at Tetulia, by Beximco Power Company Ltd and Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co Ltd, 32 MW (AC) Solar Park at Dharampasha, Sunamganj by Haor Bangla-Korea Green Energy Ltd, 5 MW (AC) Solar Park at Patgram, Lalmonirhat by PV Power Patgram Ltd, 5 MW (AC) Solar Park at Gowainghat, Sylhet by Sun Solar Power Plant Ltd and 200 MW (AC) Solar Park at Sundarganj, Gaibandha by Beximco Power Co Ltd.