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Dhaka: Energy-starved Bangladesh has launched an austerity campaign as experts suggested the country could resolve its acute power crisis only by adopting conservation mechanisms.
"We recycle many things in our daily lives. I, therefore, would like to make an appeal to my countrymen to extend such behaviour in the use of scarce energy resources," interim government chief Fakhruddin Ahmad said while opening the campaign for energy conservation and renewable energy programmes at a conference.
"Avoid wastage of gas and electricity, use energy efficient lights, apply energy-saving technologies in industries and utilise renewable energy resources such as solar and wind energy."
The chief adviser's comments came at a time when state-run and private power plants can supply only 3,500 megawatt (mw) to the national grid against the officially estimated peak time demand of 4,500mw. The scenario has forced power officials to ration the distribution, causing hours of outage amid tropical summer heat.
But energy experts said the country could largely address the evening peak time power deficit of about 1,000mw by using energy saving devices such as compact florescent lamps (CFL) and promoting renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, municipal wastes and poultry litters.
"Under a comprehensive campaign we are expecting get an extra 1500mw by adopting conservation mechanisms and exploring alternative or renewable energy sources in six months," BD Rahmatullah of the state-run Rural Electrification Board told the Gulf News on the sidelines of the national conference.
The chief adviser office has already directed to raise thermostat to 24 degrees Celsius in air-conditioners to save electricity while Ahmad has ordered incandescent bulb into energy-efficient and energy-saving CFLs in all government offices.
The chief adviser's special assistant in energy ministry, Professor Tamim, called upon all offices, schools, factories and organisations to create "energy watcher group" within their own systems for energy conservation.
"We have already said turning off just one light bulb at each household in Dhaka city will save 50mw, reducing the load shedding. A mere five degree thermostat adjustment can save us 150mw peak hour air conditioning load... solar panel, solar water heating, CFL - the options and opportunities are limitless," Tamim said.
Failed attempt
The campaign was launched as Bangladesh desperate attempt to procure cheap hydro-electricity from neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar yielded little result while initiatives for exploring nuclear energy remained time consuming affairs despite green signals from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Officials earlier said they were preparing a draft energy conservation act to ensure efficient use and conservation of energy in building complexes through shading building from sunlight, use of energy-efficient lights and installation of energy-efficient appliances.
Experts earlier said the campaign was also crucial for Bangladesh as the country's generation system is mainly based on dwindling gas supplies.
"Energy is now too expensive to be wasted... a KWH power saved is better than a KWH generated," said Professor Ijaj Hossain of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
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