Government targets 10,000MW solar power generation within five years.
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam today said the government has set a target of generating 10,000 megawatts of solar power over the next five years.
He said solar power generation must be increased wherever opportunities exist, from rooftops to unused spaces of government and private institutions.
Faqir Mahbub Anam, also Science and Technology Minister, made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of a one-megawatt rooftop solar plant installed at Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Limited (BCSL) here in the district.
He further said the government has also guaranteed payment at the rate of Tk 10.50 per unit for surplus electricity supplied to the national grid.
Faqir Mahbub Anam said amid the gas, electricity and furnace oil crisis, the government has taken up a major plan to generate solar power as an alternative energy source. As part of that, BCSL's solar power project has been implemented under the 180-day programme given by the prime minister. It went into production nearly a month ago, he said.
He said after meeting the factory's own demand, the surplus electricity is being supplied to the national grid, which is saving around Tk 1.5 million per month. The investment in the project, set up at a cost of around Tk 5 crore, will be recovered within three to four years.
The minister said solar power is a source of natural energy, and expanding its use is essential in the current context of the energy crisis. For this, the government is encouraging the general public to install solar power, he said, adding that an initiative has been taken to provide loans at 1 percent interest, which can be repaid in monthly installments.
Tax and duty benefits are also available for the import of solar power equipment, he said.
He further said electricity generated from BCSL's one-megawatt plant is meeting around 900 kilowatts of the factory's demand, and the surplus electricity has already been supplied to the national grid. There is scope to upgrade the plant's capacity to two megawatts in the future, he said.
The minister said around 30,000 acres of land have been acquired for solar power projects under the prime minister's directive. Alongside this, initiatives for wind power generation are also underway, he said, adding that solar power projects will be set up, depending on the availability of space, at various institutions under the Posts and Telecommunications Division, including BTCL, Teletalk and hi-tech parks.
The event was presided over by Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary and Chairman of BCSL's Board of Directors Bilquis Jahan Rimi.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, Khulna Divisional Commissioner and Director of BCSL's Board of Directors Abdullah Harun, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Bitan Kumar Mondal were present as special guests.
BCSL Managing Director Md. Shahidul Islam delivered the welcome address at the event.
Earlier, the minister planted trees at the BCSL premises and released fish fingerlings into a pond.
