Ensure the access of the poor to renewable energy

The state minister of power, Energy and mineral resources Mr. Nasrul Hamid Bipu said, “There is an existing discrimination of use of power and energy in the country but the government is aware of that and is working to meet the demands of the people by taking initiative to reduce the discrimination.” “The government, however, by 2021, will ensure electricity for 80% of its population”, he added.

The above statement of the minister came in a consultation meeting titled “Access of poor in Renewable Energy Management” held on 26 June, 2014 at Bijoy Hall of Energy Building in Dhaka arranged by BARCIK and BAPA (Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon) where he attended as chief guest of the event. He said, “Hill, Char and Island are the most remote areas of Bangladesh and we target those areas for ensuring that people living in those areas have access to renewable energy”. The state minister asked all to use electricity economically and urged the solar traders to trade ensuring quality of their goods. He further said, “There is a slight discrimination in regard of energy use in Bangladesh. Those who need energy with free of cost, are deprived. It is the duty of us all to remove the discrimination and use energy economically ensuring that the poor also have access to energy”.

However, the consultation meeting was presided over by vice-chairman of BAPA Professor Khandoker Bojlur Hoque and among the special guests of the event included: Secretary of Bangladesh Renewable Energy Sommittee and director of Dhaka University’s Institute of Energy, Professor Saiful Haque, Professor of Economics department of Dhaka University M.A Akash, BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) teacher Professor M. Shamshul Alam, Deputy secretary of Energy Department Md. Allauddin and Joint secretary of Energy Department Siddique Jubayer and etal. The whole event was addressed by the general secretary of BAPA Dr. Abdul Matin. BARCIK researcher Ershad Ali presented keynote paper focusing on the findings of BARCIK research regarding the use of renewable energy in Bangladesh in the event.

People who came across Bangladesh presented their problems and the state of renewable energy management in their perspective areas. Including the chief guests other guests in the event attentively listened to them. Ripan from Horrirampur Manikgonj said, “We rear livestock in the char area and the dungs of livestock could be used to make a Biogas plant. But we cannot afford to make biogas plant as it is expensive. If government and any other organization come forward to do that or provide us loan with low interest, we could make it possible.” Jharna Begum from Netrakona said, “We have to spend BDT 6000/7000 as down payment for solar energy and every month we have to pay the installment as well. It is really difficult for us to bear the expenses after meeting the family needs including education of our kids. What should we do?” Masud Rana from Nachole, Rajshahi said, “There is no electricity in our village. We heard that there is solar system in 10 miles away from our village. How will we meet our energy needs?” Former Upazilla vice chairman of Horrirampur Manikgonj, Sajeda Chowdhuri said, “Initiative should be taken to ensure the access of the poor to renewable energy reducing the high price. Subsidies should be allocated for the poor people instead of the rich in connection to using electricity.” Orpana from Shymanagar, Satkhira said, “We have been struggling to earn our livelihood. There is scarcity of fuels here. We have been using dead leaves, woods and kerosene to meet our energy demand. If we have access to renewable energy dscn1472we could solve our problems associated with energy use”.

Nonetheless, based on the discussions, energy experts and the experienced participants in the meeting placed some advices and recommendations to ease the energy related problems of the poor and to help the poor get easy access to renewable energy system. In their advice and recommendation they said that the price of energy should be fixed considering the income of the poor people, the systems and process to get services related with renewal energy used should be made available and easier to the poor. They also mentioned that government should take initiative to provide solar home system to the selected poor people like it distributes VGF and establishing solar energy center in remote areas, including formulating region wise plan to distribute solar system.