Local solar panel manufacturers placed an 11-point demand urging the government to make use of locally made solar panels mandatory in every government project, including the projects of the Infrastructure Development Company Limited.
“As we are facing strong competition from imported panels, we seek government support to ensure consumers’ rights and protect the interest of local manufacturers,” Tanjil Chowdhury, President of Solar Module Manufacturers Association of Bangladesh (SMMAB), said at a press conference in the capital yesterday.
The 11-point demand calls upon the government to discourage solar panel import by imposing 20-25 percent customs and supplementary duty, to provide 20-30 percent cash incentives for export to facilitate growth of the industry, and relaxing VAT for local manufacturers. They also demanded bank loan facilities with a 4-5 percent interest rate for this promising sector.
“Consumers are being cheated. These panels, that produced cheaply in various countries are sold under the name of high quality manufacturers. Despite a warranty of 20 years, they do not last more than two to three years, due to the poor manufacturing quality,” Tanjil Chowdhury said.
“If the government does not protect the local manufacturers and frame a time-bound policy, the country’s vision of installing 60 lakh solar panels by 2017 will not be fulfilled,” he added.
“The country does not need to import solar panels as the local companies can produce around 80 megawatt solar panels against the demand of 60 megawatts a year,” he added.