Rehennuma Tarannum:

Despite having adequate power generation capacity, Bangladesh is facing a severe gas and electricity crisis driven primarily by institutional, political, and financial mismanagements. To address the breakdown and ensure long-term energy security, the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission has identified 12 critical risks—including delayed commissioning and heavy debt-repayment pressures from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The strategies to mitigate these threats have been framed under the Five-Year Strategic Framework (FY2026–27 to FY2030–31).

According to the GED framework, the ongoing crisis is not technical, but rather the result of weak governance and policy indecisiveness, the cost of which is being borne by citizens. To stabilize the sector, the government plans to appoint 23 international drilling contractors to boost domestic gas exploration and collaborate with Bangladesh Bank to formulate a structured debt-repayment plan for Rooppur to ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Highlighting the urgency, Dr. Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary) of GED, stated that securing an affordable, reliable, and clean energy supply is essential for sustainable development, industrial competitiveness, and poverty reduction. He emphasized that the strategic framework will be effectively executed to ensure uninterrupted energy distribution.

Key Government Strategies to Tackle the 12 Identified Risks:

GAS EXPLORATION & LNG SUPPLY: Fast-track internal drilling by engaging 23 international contractors, conduct 3D seismic surveys in the Bay of Bengal, and secure 80% of LNG imports through long-term contracts.

ROOPPUR SECURITY & RESERVE SAFEGUARDS: Ensure nuclear safety compliance per IAEA standards, finalize supply agreements with Rosatom, and coordinate with Bangladesh Bank for structured debt-repayment terms to protect foreign exchange reserves.

FINANCIAL REFORMS FOR BPDB: Mitigate BPDB’s financial losses through quarterly tariff rationalization and renegotiate at least five Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) within the first year.

RENEWABLE ENERGY & GREEN FINANCING: Restore investor confidence by launching quarterly solar auctions, issuing $1 billion in sovereign green bonds, and installing 2,500 MW of battery storage capacity.

CYBERSECURITY & CLIMATE RESILIENCE: Develop a specialized cybersecurity architecture for grid infrastructure and establish an emergency repair fund to restore supplies quickly after extreme weather events.

Underlining the necessity of these interventions, Abul Mansur Md. Faizullah, Chairman of Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, affirmed that expanding domestic gas exploration is vital for national energy security, and strict implementation of the GED strategic roadmap will deliver tangible results.