CPD welcomes govt move to abandon coal in power generation

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) today welcomed the government's move to abandon coal in power generation, suggesting the adoption of renewable energy rather than liquefied natural gas (LNG)-based power plants.

"The recent initiative of the Ministry of Power and Energy to abandon coal in power generation is a right move," it said.

"However, the alternative of coal should not be LNG. Shifting from coal to LNG will be a move from one form of fossil-fuel to another, which also pollutes environment," said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of the CPD, while making a presentation, during a virtual media briefing.

He said despite all the potentials, options for setting up renewable energy-based power plants did not get attention from the policy-makers.

The ministry should make a comprehensive assessment by adding renewable energy as an option and should help the Prime Minister's Office in taking the right decision.

"Renewable energy is the cleanest energy," Moazzem said.

Abandoning coal from power generation would provide relief and opportunities for the power sector, the CPD said.