According to the Energy Progress Report 2019 published by the World Bank, Bangladesh has made astounding progress in the power sector as 93 percent of the country’s 160 million people are now under the coverage of electricity. The report tracks global, regional and country progress on the three targets of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), i.e., access to energy and clean cooking, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The target for SDG7 is to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by the year 2030. It also aims to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix and double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
We must plan for sustainable
development that prioritizes
the environment instead of just the
economic aspects of it
The report credits the current government’s long-term energy planning, commitment to development as well as the role of private financing in helping Bangladesh achieve this milestone. The number of power plants has increased from 27 to 108 since the Awami League government came into power in 2009.
However, access to clean cooking solutions and the use of renewable energy in heat generation and transport are still lagging behind the goals, the report added. We must plan for sustainable development that prioritizes the environment instead of just the economic aspects of it. The government must fund research to find sources of clean energy as well as to improve energy efficiency of existing sources. The government must work to bring in investment in energy infrastructure and subsidize energy for areas that need it the most.
The current scenario of energy efficiency and availability in the country is not a promising one. Due to load shedding, we are facing a loss of productivity and it is reflected in our economic growth. The authorities must strive to ensure the availability and affordability of energy at all times in order to improve the living standards and also increase the overall productivity of the country.
