Govt focusing on domestic gas exploration, marine resource extraction: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the current government is putting importance on exploration of domestic gas resources, extraction of marine resources to develop the blue economy, expansion of green energy and diversification of energy sources for sustainable economic development.

The home minister made the remark while addressing a programme marking the 27th founding anniversary of Chattogram Journalist Forum Dhaka (CJFD) at the All Community Club in Gulshan yesterday (8 August).

Focusing on Chattogram- and Cox's Bazar-based enormous potentials for the country's economy, he said: "There is only one Matarbari, one Sonadia and one Cox's Bazar that houses the country's single marine drive road and the world's longest sandy beach. Still, it remains largely virgin. We have to develop it. Everything is there."

He said Cox's Bazar and Chattogram should not be known only for tourism destinations but also for economic hubs.

Noting that Bangladesh has yet to properly utilise its marine resources, he stressed the need for initiating a process now to extract marine resources in future.

"How many marine resources do we extract? How much seaweed do we extract from the sea? Nothing (we extract). We could not extract the gas beneath the sea either. We have not been able to harness the other potential of the blue economy, including mineral resources," Salahuddin said.

He said the government has also decided to give greater attention to both offshore and onshore gas exploration.

Salahuddin said even if exploration begins today, it could take at least seven to eight years to start commercial extraction and bring the gas into the national grid.

About green energy, he said the government has also set a target of generating between 5,000 and 10,000 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy by 2030.

"We will gradually move towards green energy and renewable energy. For that, we have set a target of generating 5,000 to 10,000 megawatts from the renewable energy sector by 2030," he said, adding that the government has relaxed its policies to attract foreign investment in this sector.

The minister also stressed the need to diversify Bangladesh's sources of gas and energy imports to reduce dependence on a single source.

Citing that during the Awami League period, Bangladesh had become dependent on the single sources for gas, he said, "We became dependent on the Middle East and the Gulf," he added.

As the Ukraine war and the Iran-Israel war created crises, now Bangladesh still sometimes has to buy gas from the spot market at two or three times the price, he went on.

"So, we've decided that there will be no single sourcing. We're now trying to source gas from Malaysia, Indonesia and various other countries. Discussions are underway with them," said the Minister.

He said the government is preparing a long-term master plan to meet the country's growing energy and power demand in line with economic growth, industrialisation and increasing use by consumers.

He said Bangladesh currently generates around 15,000 megawatts of electricity, while peak-hour demand reaches around 17,000 megawatts, leaving a shortage of around 2,000 megawatts, particularly after the evening.

"We are meeting this shortage now, but gradually we have to take our generation capacity to 30,000 megawatts," he said.

The minister also said the government has a plan to build an expressway railway from Chattogram to Dhaka. "If this is implemented, it will be possible to travel from Chattogram to Dhaka in just two hours," he said.

The 27th founding anniversary of Chattogram Journalist Forum Dhaka was celebrated in a festive atmosphere with the participation of its members. The programme included a discussion, cultural event, cake cutting and dinner.

State Minister for Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin joined the programme virtually as a special guest.

Besides, Prime Minister's Speech Writer SAM Mahfuzur Rahman and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, among others, spoke on the occasion.

CJFD President Shamim Jahangir delivered the welcome address, while its General Secretary Touhidur Rahman conducted the event.