The global energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has certainly been felt far and wide. With frequent load sheddings and even a massive failure of the national grid seen last year, clearly Bangladesh is also reeling from the shocks of the energy crisis.
While the government has assured us that the energy crisis will be mitigated eventually, it is clear that sticking to the existing ways of securing energy is no longer a viable option, especially considering Bangladesh's medium-to-long term goals as an economy.
It is high time that a national conversation was begun about renewable energy.
To that end, it is heartening to see our ever-enterprising private sector take the first meaningful steps, as the largest solar park in Bangladesh is now ready for its inauguration. The power project, in Gaibandha, has been implemented at the cost of around Tk1,800 crore on a land of around 700 acres located near the Teesta River and houses around 520,000 solar panels with a generation capacity of 200MW.
This is an incredibly laudable initiative, and is further proof of how our private sector, when given the opportunity, can truly change the landscape of our nation.
When it comes to generating power, solar power is clean and green, and a much more sensible option than burning fossil fuels. Solar power is, therefore, perfect for a nation like Bangladesh, which experiences a high amount of sunlight throughout the year -- harnessing this power bestowed upon us by nature could be a game-changer.
At the end of the day, Bangladesh's best chances of securing the energy necessary to power our future ambitions would be to explore any and all avenues for energy generation, especially renewable energy. It is the only way we can ensure a bright future for us all.
