Editor Fortnightly Magazine, Vol 17, Issue 14, January 1-15 Mollah M Amzad Hossain Advisory Editor Anwarul Islam Tarek Mortuza Ahmad Faruque Saiful Amin International Editor Dr. Nafis Ahmed Contributing Editors Saleque Sufi Online Editor GSM Shamsuzzoha (Nasim) Managing Editor Afroza Hossain Bangabandhu’s policy was to ensure hassle-free power supply at affordable price Magazine Administrator for achieving economic development of the country. His strategy was to utilize AKM Shamsul Hoque own resources instead of dependence on imported fuel. Bangladesh in its long Reporters Arunima Hossain journey of about 50 years since independence made significant progress — be it in Mohiuddin Miah terms of the economy or other areas. The energy sector is not also lagging behind. Assistant Online Editor The power subsector has made remarkable progress particularly in generation Aditya Hossain thanks to tremendous efforts especially over the last 11 years. The overcapacity of Design & Graphics Md. Monirul Islam late drew some criticisms though. However, one of the major issues of concern is Photography that the country is gradually getting dependent on imported fuel, putting price Bulbul Ahmed pressure on the consumers. There is a projection that the country is approaching Production towards 90 percent dependence on the imported fuel. Ultimately, the consumers Mufazzal Hossain Joy Computer Graphics will have to bear the brunt. Md. Uzzal Hossain The main challenge is to increase the contribution of own fuel to the fuel mix to Circulation Assistant limit the power generation cost. It is not an easy task, however. But, hectic efforts Khokan Chandra Das Editorial, News & Commercial should be there for exploring own primary fuel alongside taking a realistic plan to Room 509, Eastern Trade Center limit the use of imported fuel to its lowest possible level. 56 Inner Circular Road (VIP Road) Naya Paltan. GPO Box : 677 Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh Tel & Fax : 88-02-58314532 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.ep-bd.com Price Bangladesh: Tk 50, SAARC: US$ 6, Asia: US$ 8, Europe: US$ 10, North America, Africa & Australia: US$ 14 45 25 9 A proper mix of own and im- The power and energy ministry The year 2020 is going to be a very impor- ported primary fuel needs to be has doubled the capacity of LNG tant year for Bangladesh in many consider- ensured for Bangladesh to import terminal and re-gasifica- ations. The countdown for ‘Mujib Barsho’ achieve affordable power sup- tion while adding 2,153 megawatt on the occasion of birth centenary of the ply. But the country is not pur- (MW) of electricity, making the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh ’ suing that path. The trend over country s overall installed capac- Mujibur Rahman will be launched on Janu- the past twelve years is driving ity to 19,467 MW in 2019. ary 10, marking his homecoming day. The Bangladesh increasingly to- A new LNG import terminal with forward march to achieve economic devel- wards imported fuel depend- a re-gasification capacity of 500 opment of the war-ravaged country ency. This will put new stress million cubic feet per day through ensuring effective and economic on the economy and affect the (mmcfd) was added in the just use of fuel that was started by his historic envisioned high growth rate. concluded year, totaling the coun- initiatives. Not only the anti-liberation syn- ’ Policy towards increasing... try s LNG import terminals to ... dicate energized through the midnight ... Encouraged by the readers and patrons, the EP would continue bringing out Green Pages to contribute to the country’s efforts in its journey towards environment-friendly energy. 35 Sungrow Secures Contract for 35 MW Plant 37 First Nationwide Network of Bio­CNG Projects Under Development in US 37 Can Algae­Based Biofuels Ever Be Cost Effective? 38 Potential of Renewables for Refugee Settlements 38 COP25 Sees Launch of New €18m Hydropower Initiative 5 WORLD WATCH 30 Govt Relaxes Rules for Latest Development in Captive Power Plants World 31 Power Tariff Hike from Jan 1 6,8 SNAPSHOT Not Lawful: CAB Latest Development 31 Govt Seeks JICA Fund for 9 COVER Building Two Matarbari Power 2020: Year of Taking Plant Units Pragmatic Approach 32 World’s First Floating COVER ARTICLE Nuclear Power Unit Supplies 21 Don’t Lose Sight of Energy Electricity to Russian Grid Sector in 2020 32 Electricity Import from Indian SPECIAL REPORT Firm’s Plant in Nepal Okayed 25 Energy Sector Witnesses CLIMATE ‘Unplanned’ Growth 41 Key Trends Impacting Power REPORT Industry in 2020, Says 27 Nasrul Slams Petrobangla, GlobalData Bapex Officials for Poor 42 Dhaka Ranks 7th Worst in Air Performance Quality Index 27 More Japanese Mega 43 Climate Change, Sea­Level Projects Possible: Envoy Rise Serious Threat to Agri 29 Turkey Keen to Invest in BD's Growth Energy Sector 44 73 Countries Commit to Net 29 ADB to Provide $333m for Zero CO2 Emissions by 2050 Power, Transportation INTERVIEW Sectors 45 Prof Dr. M Tamim, 30 KPCL to Acquire 35pc Stake Pro­Vice Chancellor of in United Payra Power Plant BRAC University Worldwatch Under-fire Australian Brazil's Aussie PM Defies Coal Prime Minister Scott Brazil’s Petrobras Mulls New state-con- Critics as Fires Rage Morrison recently re- $400m Lubricant Plant trolled oil jected calls for “reck- company less” and “job-destroying” cuts to the country’s vast coal Petrobras SA is mulling construction of a new lubricant plant industry in the face of a deadly climate-fuelled bushfire crisis. that could quadruple its production capacity by 2022, the Morrison’s conservative government has fiercely defended the company's refining chief said recently. lucrative coal industry in Australia, which produces a third of Anelise Lara, Petrobras' refining and natural gas chief, told global coal exports and provides work in key swing electoral Reuters the company will invest about $400 million to build districts. the new plant in the Comperj refinery, raising its lubricant pro- “I am not going to write off the jobs of thousands of Aus- duction capacity to 225,00 cubic meters. tralians by walking away from traditional industries,” Morrison The new Comperj plant will use raw materials from another told the refinery, Reduc, she added. Both refineries, located in the state Seven Net- of Rio de Janeiro, will be linked by a pipeline. work, in one When the Comperj plant is concluded, Petrobras plans to shut of several down its lubricant production unit at Reduc. morning in- terviews re- jecting calls for further action. Saudi Saudi Aramco Shares Rocket Aramco's on Debut After Record IPO shares soared on their debut on the domestic stock exchange recently, be- coming the world's biggest listed company worth $1.88 tril- lion after a record-breaking IPO. Anelise Lara Aramco had priced the initial public offering at 32 riyals ($8.53) per share, raising $25.6 billion and eclipsing Alibaba's Chevron Cor- $25 billion IPO of 2014 to become the world's largest. Chevron Will Write Down poration said recently it will Aramco shares rose 10 per cent to 35.2 riyals just seconds Assets by at Least $10bn book a charge after trading began on Riyadh's Tadawul exchange, the max- of at least $10 billion because lower imum allowed on any trading day, further boosting the energy long-term prices for oil and natural gas giant's valuation. will reduce the value of its assets. "Today is a day of immense pride for Aramco," company chief More than half the write-down is related executive Amin Nasser said at a glitzy launch ceremony. to gas drilling operations in Appalachia. "Today we make history as Saudi Aramco marks the beginning of an important new chapter in our company's journey of The huge fourth-quarter write-down – prosperity," he added. between $10 billion and $11 billion – underscores the challenge posed by ris- Qatar’s ing production that has prevented energy prices from increas- Qatari Fund to Invest $450m sover- ing sharply during a time of increasing global demand. in India’s Adani Transmission eign wealth Chevron said it will reduce spending on some investments in- fund will invest $450 million in a unit of Indian power company cluding Appalachian shale, a liquefied gas terminal in British Adani Transmission Ltd for a 25.1 percent stake, the two entities Columbia, and other international projects. The company said said recently. it is evaluating options including selling those assets. Qatar Investment Authority will buy the stake in Adani Electric- The San Ramon, California-based company disclosed the es- ity Mumbai Ltd (AEML) in a deal that will also include subordi- timated charge as it announced that capital and exploration nated loans. spending next year will be held flat at $20 billion. Chevron AEML is an integrated power distribution, transmission and gen- will focus on operations in the Permian Basin of west Texas eration business that serves more than 3 million consumers in and New Mexico, a big project in Kazakhstan, and deepwater Mumbai, India’s financial capital. drilling opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico. January 1, 2020 5 Snapshot The government has ap- Religious Affairs Secre- Power Division Gets pointed new secretary to Energy Division Gets tary Md. Anisur Rahman New Secretary the Power Division, said New Secretary has been transferred to gazette notifications of the Energy and Mineral the public administration Resources Division recently. ministry recently. Md. Anisur Rahman was born Chairman of Rajdhani Un- on December 31, 1962 in nayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Shariatpur district. He had Dr. Sultan Ahmed has been completed his Secondary appointed secretary to the School Certificate and Higher power division of power, en- Secondary Certificate examina- ergy and mineral resources tion from Chandpur Hasan Ali Government High School and ministry.