Subsidy won't ensure energy security

Bangladesh may not achieve energy security by 2021 if the government continues to provide huge subsidies, a leading expert said yesterday.
“We will never reach energy security by 2021 if the low price of energy continues,” Prof Ijaz Hossain of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) said.
His remarks came at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the second biennial German Trade Show 2011 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the three-day fair.
“The government will soon become bankrupt if it continues the huge subsidies on energy,” said Prof Hossain, a teacher of chemical engineering department, expressing his concern over the persistent misuse of electricity and gas.
“Despite being the lowest user of per capita energy, we waste a significant amount,” he noted.
Wolfgang Cramer, professor on global ecology from Germany and winner of Nobel Peace Prize 2007, said the value of the Sundarbans is very high, “but we are degrading its ecosystem”.
He also called for adopting recycling technology in the paper industry.
Cramer said scientists have to improve their knowledge-base on the natural environment and the human use of it. "There should be dialogues between governments, scientists and civil societies to protect the environment.”
Shireen Kamal Sayeed, former assistant country director of the UNDP, said, “We need to focus on capacity building to conceptualise new ideas of conserving energy.”
She stressed the need for energy conservation at all levels -- from industries to households to government offices.
Berthold Schirm, senior advisor of wetland and forest biodiversity rehabilitation project at GIZ Bangladesh, said, “Mitigation and adaptation are the two key elements to face the adverse impact of climate change.”
He said: “We need to focus on energy conservation. Saving energy means saving money.”
GIZ's Erich Otto Gomm, programme coordinator of sustainable energy for development project, suggested environment-friendly technology for energy usage. "The country needs to use improved cooking stoves to reduce energy consumption."
Jens Kahle, chief executive officer of WAB Trading, Germany, spoke at the discussion among others.