Government Focuses on Domestic Energy to Reduce Import Dependence
The government is focusing on increasing the use of domestic energy resources to meet the country’s electricity demand. Electricity generation from domestic gas, coal and solar power continues, while efforts to strengthen the energy supply system are creating opportunities to reduce dependence on imports. Moving away from the pressure of import dependence that developed in the past and ensuring the best use of domestic resources have become important priorities.
According to senior officials concerned, a total of 15,326 megawatts of electricity was supplied to the national grid on Monday. Of this, 13,391 megawatts came from domestic sources, including gas, coal, liquid fuel, hydropower and solar power. This accounted for approximately 87.4 per cent of the total supply. In comparison, 1,935 megawatts, or around 12.6 per cent, was imported from India and Nepal.
Coal made the largest contribution among domestic sources of electricity. According to officials, coal-fired power plants supplied 5,316 megawatts during the period. Gas-based power generation accounted for 4,666 megawatts, liquid fuel for 2,720 megawatts, solar power for 603 megawatts and hydropower for 86 megawatts.
Meanwhile, 891 megawatts of electricity came through Bheramara, 936 megawatts from Adani, 70 megawatts from Tripura and 38 megawatts from Nepal. Another important picture of the energy sector emerged from Petrobangla’s daily gas production and distribution report. According to the report, total gas production and supply in the country stood at 2,537.9 million cubic feet over the 24-hour period. Domestic gas fields supplied 1,585.6 million cubic feet, while 952.3 million cubic feet came from the regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Both state-owned companies and international companies contribute to domestic gas production. Maintaining domestic production capacity and ensuring the effective use of existing gas fields are important for energy security. Expanding exploration, increasing production and developing alternative sources such as solar power could also help reduce pressure on imports.
Energy experts believe that strengthening long-term energy security requires greater exploration and use of domestic resources rather than relying solely on imports. However, no specific expert comments were provided on the issue.
Domestic sources are playing an important role in the country’s electricity supply. To strengthen this contribution, greater emphasis is needed on domestic gas exploration, environmentally responsible coal use, renewable energy expansion and improving the efficiency of power plants. These measures could reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves from energy imports and further strengthen the country’s energy security.
