The government has set a target of generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity from solar by 2030 as part of efforts to ensure the country’s energy security.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani announced the plan at a press briefing at the Secretariat yesterday following a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The meeting discussed the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, ways to facilitate investment in renewable energy projects, and options for expanding renewable energy sources, he added.
Ghani said the policy aims to make the investment climate more attractive by easing entry for both public and private investors and ensuring profitability.
Large-scale investment opportunities on government land will be opened up not only for public entities but also for private entrepreneurs to help achieve the target, he said.
The Renewable Energy Policy 2025 targets at least 20 percent of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.
To achieve this target, a committee has already been formed to finalise the policy and oversee implementation.
“The committee will quickly finalise the required laws and policies and begin implementation,” he said, adding that previous plans had proved ineffective.
The government introduced a new policy framework last week to speed up renewable energy development by allowing unused or underutilised state-owned land to be used for clean energy projects under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The cabinet also discussed expanding other renewable sources, including wind and biogas.
In the briefing, the cabinet secretary also said efforts are underway to modernise solar systems and promote domestic manufacturing to overcome existing limitations. He said the government aims to keep solar power tariffs between Tk 4 and Tk 8 per unit.
The cabinet also decided to observe November 7 as a public holiday to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
The BNP has long observed the day, commemorating the civil-military uprising of November 7, 1975, which led to the release of then army chief Ziaur Rahman and his rise to national leadership.
In addition, June 6 will be observed annually as “National Rural Development Day”, but it will not be a public holiday.
