As temperatures continue to climb, concerns over increased load shedding and public suffering are on the rise. However, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, has offered some reassuring news.
Speaking at a seminar titled "Pathways to Overcoming the Energy Crisis," organised by the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) at Bijoy Hall in the Power Development Board (PDB) building on Saturday afternoon, he said that load shedding this summer would remain within a manageable and tolerable range.
"Our projection is 18,000 megawatts. We are confident that we can manage the situation to a large extent," he stated.
Kabir Khan added that efforts would be made to balance load shedding between rural and urban areas. Emphasising the need to maintain the electricity supply through energy imports, he revealed that the government has decided to pursue LNG (liquefied natural gas) imports through public-private partnerships.
Acknowledging the limited tenure of the current government, he said, "Energy sector initiatives require time. We are taking on only those projects that are achievable. Our immediate priority is to clear outstanding dues, as no country will continue business with us without timely bill payments."
He further directed that system losses must be reduced by 50% within the next two months. "We are addressing issues such as line leakages and gas theft and have already curtailed unnecessary project expenditures. Next year, we will not have to manage arrears—only current payments. Subsidy levels are also expected to decrease rather than increase," he explained, noting that the government is actively working to overcome previous financial challenges.
Addressing the issue of oil and gas exploration in the sea, Kabir Khan mentioned that no companies participated in the recent bidding process. However, he assured that a re-tender will be issued once final approval is secured from the ministry.
