Bangladesh launch of household energy platform
Bangladesh has been growing steadily with a GDP growth rate of 6-7% a year over the last few years and aspires to become middle income country by 2021. It is expecting gradual increase of energy production and energy use to meet its demand. Natural Gas, the only indigenous energy source shall not be able to meet that energy ambition. The resource is also not unlimited and the country is already experiencing gradual shortfall in supply with respect to demand. The government recently announced it will no longer provide Natural GAS connection to households which is currently the source of cooking only in and around Dhaka. Exploiting the full potential of alternative energy is one avenue which can contribute towards long term energy security of the country.
Realizing the importance, Bangladesh Government is emphasizing due importance on renewable energy and energy efficiency issues and initiated the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) Act in 2012 to facilitate, regulate, and promote all aspects of renewable energy, energy conservation, and development for a sustainable energy solution.
SREDA started its official journey from 22nd May 2014 with limited capacity and has intensified its efforts moving towards a fully functional national body. SREDA is developing a roadmap for its envisioned, reinforcing logistics and physical resources as well as developing a pool of talented, motivated, and innovative thinkers within the organization to help achieve the goals of SREDA.
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves signed an MOU with SREDA in February 2014 to work together to facilitate the dissemination of 30 million cookstoves by 2030 as envisaged in the Country Action Plan based on market driven approach. The three main areas under this partnership are to implement awareness campaigns to create demand for improved cookstoves, to establish national testing facilities to ensure the quality of the products and to launch and facilitate the Household Energy Platform.
Household Energy Platform (HEP) will be a Public-Private Partnership hosted by The Sustainable Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) and is to be functioned as per dynamic needs of the sector, based on the broader understanding and interest from the stakeholders. It will not be a decision making body for the sector, but will discuss and send information/ recommendation/ request to respective Government/ Non-Government Agency/ Development Partner / Implementation Partner through the HEP Secretariat.
The HEP, though initially supported by the Alliance, will be led by SREDA. The Platform will include representatives from relevant line ministries like Ministry of Environment, Women and Children Affairs, Local Government, Health, and Rural Development. The Platform will also include major Cookstove Players and Development Partners contributing to the sectors. In addition, the Platform will include suitable representations from Private Sector, Civil Society, Academic Institutions, Think-tanks and young innovators. The Platform Membership will be reviewed annually to exclude non-interested parties and include new members to the team. In addition, there will be a Core committee for the Platform who will meet bi-annually to discuss the most pressing issues and the support needed from GOB to move the sector forward. Sub-Committees will also be formed with members specifically focusing on areas such as Testing and Standards, Demand Creation, Fuel, Policy and Advocacy, etc.
On 26th May, 2016 SREDA organized an event to celebrate its 2nd anniversary. Some of the faces who were present at the event were Mr. Nazimuddin Chowdhury of the Secretary, Energy & Mineral Resources Division; Mr. Md. Tazul Islam MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources; Mr. Nasrul Hamid MP, State Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury BB, Advisor to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for Power, Energy & Mineral Resources Affairs; Md. Anwarul Islam Sikder ndc, Chairman, SREDA, Power Division, members of SREAD as well as other government officials. This event allowed SREDA to officially inaugurat its new office, its new logo, the energy Efficiency and conservation Master plan, and The Household Energy Platform.
Prior to the launch, on the 22nd May, SREDA organized a pre-launch meeting with major stakeholders lik, Giz, IDCOL, Department of Environment, Ministry of health, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, BCSIR, BSTI, BUET, CCEB, Bondhu Foundation, and local Ngo’s where discussion was focused around ongoing issues of the sector and the need for a platform in order to coordinate all efforts.