BSS, Dhaka
The new government’s decision of withdrawal of all duties on equipments of Solar Household System (SHS) will significantly boost up the expansion of renewable energy in rural parts of the county, experts said.
Prof NC Bhowmik, director of Renewable Energy research Centre (RERC) told BSS that the vast areas of rural people mostly in the economically backward sites from now on will be able to enjoy electricity facilities with the sharp reduction in the prices of SHSs as the government decided to withdraw all duties on solar panel and other equipments.
He said,the decision shows the positive intention of the new government towards their vision to bring all people under electricity coverage within the stipulated period of time with cost-effective systems.
Both the SHS users and solar panel importers would be equally benefited with the total 18 percent waive of tax on import of solar panel, said RERC director.
The country had experienced a severe power outrages over the years due to deficiency in the power production, said the scientist and hoped that the power crisis will be eased with the wide range of use of SHSs in remote areas. According to a World Bank statistics, about 38% of the country has access to electricity and per capita electricity consumption is about 133 kWh, which is one of the lowest in the world.
Nearly 75% of the population is rural and only about 30% of the rural households have access to grid electricity. The current rate of expansion in electrification is only about 400,000 new households gaining access every year and at such rate it would take more than 40 years to reach all households, read the survey. Encouraged by the success of the World Bank financed ‘Renewable Energy Development Project’ implemented by the Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) and Rural Electrification Board (REB), the World Bank proposed a fresh $100 million funding for solar power, WB sources told BSS.
Under this project, IDCOL has already connected more than 250,000 SHS through 15 non-government organizations including BRAC and Grameen Shakti, the Bank sources said.
The NGOs are providing a wide range of power generating capacity of Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) panels from 30 watts to 120 watts. For example, a 50-watt PV panel can run four LED lights and one black and white television, Grameen Shakti sources said.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
