Experts revealed alarming data indicating that Bangladesh’s annual energy import bill is projected to reach US$20 billion by 2030, doubling from the current $10 billion. They emphasized the urgent need for developing the domestic gas sector and reducing reliance on costly liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) highlighted the escalating burden of capacity payments, leading to a deteriorating financial condition for the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
The CPD report indicated a substantial increase in subsidy requirements, from Tk 40 billion in FY’17 to Tk 230 billion in FY’23, with an estimated rise to Tk 320 billion in FY’24. Additionally, the CPD underscored the limited progress in renewable energy projects, as the currently installed renewable energy-based generation capacity accounts for only 4.30% of the total capacity. Experts stressed the importance of technological advancements and drilling additional gas wells to boost local production and reduce energy import dependence.
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