State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has called for enhanced cooperation in energy security and the adoption of clean energy practices with a view to fostering comprehensive development within the energy sector of both Bangladesh and Thailand in the foreseeable future.
Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid holds a bilateral meeting with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan salirathavibhaga in Thailand on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Photo: Courtesy
He made the call in a bilateral meeting held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, where he engaged in discussions with Thailand's Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga.
During the meeting, a range of topics of mutual interest were discussed. The discussion centered on investment and energy economic cooperation, along with an emphasis on the broader utilization of safe lithium batteries in electric vehicles.
Thailand's energy minister underscored the importance of bolstering energy collaboration and stressed the potential benefits that both nations can derive through expanded mutual cooperation and dialogue.
In another event, State Minister Nasrul Hamid said that Bangladesh will work together with the Asia-Pacific region to build a secure, sustainable and interconnected energy future.
Regional cooperation, strategic partnerships and policy coordination will implement the existing potential, said the state minister.
There is a special need for collective and integrated initiatives to address the challenges of the existing energy system, he said.
The state minister said these while addressing the third Asia Pacific Energy Forum organized by Escap in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday.
He said that the demand for primary fuel in this region including Bangladesh is increasing continuously, which is hampering development.
Cooperation in the Asia Pacific region must be increased to meet the demand, said the state minister.
Nasrul Hamid said that Bangladesh has given special importance to the expansion of renewable energy and is offering various benefits to investors.
“Bangladesh gives special importance to regional and sub-regional cooperation and connectivity. Now 2,600MW electricity is being imported from India. The process of importing 40MW hydropower from Nepal is almost final,” he added further.
The state minister also said that the process of importing more electricity from neighboring countries through grid interconnection is ongoing. Regional and sub-regional cooperation must be enhanced to address climate change and achieve the SDG goals.
