Installation of solar power system in urban areas likely to be made easier, cost effective

The government is likely to take initiatives to make the installation of solar power system easier and cost effective in urban areas so people could cope with the mounting power crisis.
Sources said the government appears positive to simplify solar power equipment import and offer special bank loan for its import and installation.
Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Power and Energy Ministry Maj Gen (retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan have already shared government plan for withdrawal of tax on solar panel equipment.
The formal announcement about the decision might come from a meeting scheduled to be held at the Ministry of Power today (Tuesday), according to the sources.
Grameen Shakti, which has already introduced the solar power system in the country’s rural areas, recently came up with a proposal to bring the country’s urban areas under the solar system on small-scale in the face of growing electricity crisis.
“The government is considering the proposal positively and it’s planning to withdraw duty and VAT on import of solar power equipment so people can easily install solar panels,” Managing Director of Grameen Shakti Dipal Chandra Barua told UNB.
He said a meeting in this regard will be held at the Ministry of Power and Energy today (Tuesday). “Our representatives will be there as there’ll be discussion on how the solar system can be made easier and popular in urban areas as done in villages. “The final decision on duty-cut for the import of solar panel and other equipment might come from the meeting.”
Sharing his plan to bring the urban areas under solar power system, Dipal said it would initially be introduced in Dhaka city and if it is found successful then the plan would be expanded in other cities and towns where demand for power is high.
He said there would be nearly a dozen of packages, ranging from Tk 60,000 to 1,40,000, for those interested to install solar power system. “It depends on the capacity of clients as they’ll have to make full payment for the design, as we’ve not found any fund for the project so far,” he said.
Dipal said if they get any fund then they will be able to provide the design on loan-basis which they are now applying at the village level. “They’re paying the total cost in three year’s timeframe.”
He, however, said they would provide maintenance services for three years to their clients.
Replying to a question, Dipal said the government might formulate a policy to purchase additional power for the national grid from the solar power system users.
He said electric bulb, television, computer, ceiling fan and water pump can be made operational from the solar power under different packages to be offered to clients. “We’ve already talked to Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman and he expressed his interest in it,” he said.
Quoting the central bank boss, he said the government is thinking about providing special loan for the installation of solar power system so the entire process can be made simpler and popular.
Earlier, experts said the solar power system can be the best option for mitigating the country’s worsening power problem. They believe that the solar power system has a bright prospect in Bangladesh, but this potential still remains untapped simply for lack of proper government initiative.
Dipal thinks 50 percent people of the country could be brought under power supply network through the solar power system within the next seven years if the government wants to do so.
The government in its energy policy that came to light in January this year mentioned to expand renewable power to villages, sub-towns and metropolitan cities. It also suggested withdrawal of duty and tax from the import of such equipment.

Courtesy of UNB, Dhaka