Government promotes rooftop solar through third-party investment model.
Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today said the government has taken an initiative to expand renewable energy use by promoting rooftop solar power installations at public and private institutions under the Operational Expenditure (OPEX) model, allowing installations through third-party investment.
"The OPEX model will allow installations through third-party investment without requiring institutions to provide their own capital," he said.
Addressing a press briefing at conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at Secretariat, he said solar power was being accorded the highest priority in both the short and long terms to address the ongoing energy crisis and increase the use of renewable energy.
"To accelerate solar power expansion, remove administrative bottlenecks and expedite investment, the government has adopted the Special Solar Power Ordinance 2026 and the National Renewable Energy Development Strategy for 2026-2030," he said.
Rahman also said a special package had been announced to promote rooftop solar installations through the net metering system, under which surplus electricity would be purchased.
Referring to progress in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, he said the power start-up stage of Unit-1 began on October 29, while the unit would gradually move towards commercial power generation and connection to the national grid, providing significant support in addressing the current energy crisis.
On market monitoring and consumer protection, the adviser said the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection conducted 993 monitoring drives between October 1 and 31 to stabilise prices of essentials.
During the drives, fines totalling Tk 1.77 core were realised, he said.
The nationwide data collection for the Small Ethnic Communities Census, aimed at assessing the socioeconomic conditions and poverty situation of these communities, was also successfully completed between October 1 and 25, he added.
Additional Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry Md Shah Alam and Principal Information Officer of PID Syed Abdal Ahmad were present at the briefing.
