Govt eyes renewable energy projects on unused ministry lands
Beza, BPDB sign MoU to develop country’s first PPP-based solar plant on public land
Highlights:
- Ministries asked to submit details of dispute-free plots larger than 3.5 acres
- 130-140MW solar plant planned on 412 acres at National Special Economic Zone
- Initiative aims to reduce fossil fuel dependence and boost energy security
The government has begun identifying large tracts of unused public land for renewable energy projects, asking ministries and state agencies to submit details of contiguous, dispute-free plots larger than 3.5 acres, as part of a broader push to expand renewable energy generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Under the initiative, agencies including the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), the Roads and Highways Department, the railways ministry and the water resources ministry have been instructed to provide information on unused land under their jurisdiction to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority Bangladesh.
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The move follows directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to implement solar power projects on unused land owned by government bodies and autonomous organisations.
Officials have already started collecting information from agencies including the railway division, Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Water Development Board.
Other agencies will be approached in phases before authorities assess how much of the land is suitable for renewable energy projects.
Meanwhile, Beza and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding at Bidyut Bhaban to develop what officials described as the country's first PPP-based solar power project on government land.
Beza said the project would consider the use of modern technologies, including battery storage systems.
Authorities have planned to build a large solar power plant on around 412 acres of Beza-owned land at the National Special Economic Zone. Initial plans envisage a project with a generation capacity of 130-140 megawatts.
Under government guidelines approved by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, BPDB will act as the contracting authority for renewable energy projects developed on public land under the PPP model, while Beza will serve as the landowner.
Major General (retd) Md Nazrul Islam, executive member of Beza, told The Business Standard, "The main goal of this initiative is to increase renewable energy generation by utilising unused government land. The electricity produced will be purchased by the power division, and the entire project will be implemented under a public-private partnership model."
He said Beza land would be used for the project and the Asian Development Bank would support financing.
"That is why a memorandum of understanding has been signed among the land-owning agency, the power division and relevant stakeholders. However, completing the different implementation processes will take some time," he added.
Nazrul further said Beza was preparing a list of plots across its economic zones that are not designated for immediate industrialisation. The Prime Minister's Office would later decide which lands would be used for renewable energy projects.
The initiative falls under the "Guidelines for Development of Renewable Energy Projects using Land Owned by Government Agencies under PPP Modality, 2026", approved by the power ministry.
At a meeting in mid-April, Tarique Rahman said reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy-based electricity generation were essential to ensure energy security amid the current global situation.
According to meeting sources, ministers and secretaries from the water resources, road transport and railways ministries agreed that details of unused land would be submitted to the PPP Authority by 30 April.
