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Special cell to be set up to explore renewable energy

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The energy ministry is considering to set up a special cell to explore the opportunity of using renewable energyin the country.
"We are in the process of forming a cell for renewable energy," said State Minister for Power Division Iqbal Hassan Mahmood at a function in the cityyesterday.
The function was organised to mark the installation of 20,000 solar home systems (SHS) financed by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCL).
He said the ministry should have concentrated on renewable and alternative energy sources earlier as the country is solely dependent on gas-based power generation.
The country plunges into darkness whenever there is disruption in gas supply, he added.
The state minister said alternative energy would be able to meet five percent of the country's total energy requirements by 2010.
ERD Secretary Mirza Tassadduq Hussain Beg said the government has waived import duty on solar panel and many private entrepreneurs have shown keep interest to produce solar panel considering huge potential of the system in the country.
The IDCL Chief Executive Officer Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan said the solar
home system is the fastest growing renewable energy programme helping electrification ofrural Bangladesh.
About ten new households are being illuminated with solar power everyhour, he added.
Khan said solar home system is being provided to the people who are out of the reach ofthe national electric grid.
The system has started to change life style in rural Bangladesh. People can live better with a tiny solar power system, earn more and students in countryside can concentrate more on study, he added.
World Bank Country Representative Christine Wallich lauded the effort of IDCL for electrifying more households under solar energy scheme.
Managing Director of Grameen Shakti Dipal Chandra Barua described the importance of solar energy.
Grameen Shakti, BRAC Foundation, Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST), Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) and SRIJONY Bangladesh have been implementing the solar home systems all over the country.
The IDCL is financing the project under a World Bank loan of $18 million.