The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is actively considering to fund four projects on alternative power generation in Bangladesh, said Dr A Atiq Rahman, executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS).

The centre organised the meeting of stakeholders on an ADB project, 'Promotion of Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Abatement (Prega)', in the city.

The four projects -- Waste to electricity, Co-generation in sugar mills; Solar-wind-diesel hybrid power and Shifting from oil to gas -- have been recommended in the Bangladesh country study report of ADB, said Prega project team leader and BCAS senior fellow Dr M Eusuf in a presentation.

Although ten projects have been recommended, the ADB has attached priority to these four projects in line with its Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) policy.

Under the 'Waste to electricity' project, at least 20 megawatt electricity can be produced with available technology an hour by using five thousand tons of garbage generated in and around Dhaka metropolitan area, said Dr Eusuf.

The solar-wind-diesel hybrid power can electrify smaller towns and rural areas in a decentralised manner of power generation, he added.

Prof M Ibrahim, executive director of Centre for Mass Education in Science, said at least two megawatt electricity is being generated by solar photovoltaic home system developed by a private company.

The energy experts said meaningful and coordinated efforts of various power-generating agencies and environment-friendly systems were imperative for consistent power production.

They also said bureaucratic tangle often creates serious obstacles to alternative power generation projects.

chief engineer of Bangladesh Power Development Board Delwar Hossain,BCAS Chairman Dr Saleemul Huq and Director of Power Cell BD Rahamatullah also spoke.