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Form an agency for renewable energy

Service providers urge govt

Star business Report
Renewable energy service providers yesterday urged the government to form a body to implement the renewable energy policy to develop the green energy resources and meet 10 percent of die national demand for power by 2020.
“The government has framed a renewable energy policy and fixed some specific targets. But it is yet to plan its implementation. We want the government to form an agency." said Muhammad Zamir, chairman of Bangladesh Renewable Energy Society (BRES).
Zamir was speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club after the government pledged duty and tax benefits to promote renewable energy in the proposed budget for the fiscal 2009-10. Solar home systems do not generate more than 15MW of electricity across the country.
In his budget speech, Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed to lift the custom duty on the import of solar panels from the existing 3 percent. VAT at all stages of import, domestic production and suppty has also been waived.
BRES. however, said the National Board of Revenue, the central tax authority, did not mention anything about solar trade in its statutory regulatory order (SRO).
The lobby group also demanded exemption of all sorts of taxes on other accessories, such as batteries and charge controllers, to promote renewable energy' and enable rural people to enjoy solar home systems at low costs.
The issues over renewable energy development comes to the fore as the supply of non-renewable energy sources, such as gas, is depleting and threatening the future energy security of the country.
“To face such challenges, we must develop renewable energy sources," said Zamir, lamenting the delays in establishing a body to implement the objectives set in the renewable energy policy, which was announced by the government in December 2008.
The policy envisions meeting 5 percent of the total power demand by 2015 and 10 percent by 2020, by developing renewable energy sources, such as solar, biogas, biomass, wind and hydropower.
Under the policy, the Sustainable Energy Development Agency (SEDA) institution is supposed to be estab-lished as a focal point for development and promotion of sustainable energy.
"Renewable energy is now the new frontier of science. An implementation agency is essential to set up short and long term plans to reach the goal," said Zamir.
Dipal C Barua, managing director of Grameen Shakti, a leading organisation installing solar home system in off-grid areas, said nearly 8 crore people do not have access to electricity and the solar home system now helps thousands of rural people light their homes.
"We are providing clean power to 230,000 rural families from 7,000 biogas plants,” he said. "Proper implementation of the pledges made by the finance minister will enable them to extend the technology to more people in the days ahead."
Munawar Misbah Moin, managing director of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd, said opportunities for carbon trading are growing due to growth of clean technologies in the country.
Ali Asgar, professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), Dr Khursheed-Ul-Islam of GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), also spoke.