Mohammad Suman, Ctg

Bangladesh’s first hydrogen fuel production plant, a project initiated by the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), is all set to begin operations by June next year.

The plant will produce hydrogen by converting household waste and water into highly combustible fuel through a process known as biomass gasification and electrolysis of water, respectively, according to BCSIR officials.

The BCSIR has already set up a unit of the plant, and the works to set up another are going on in full swing.

Once both units begin operations, they will collectively produce about 5.8 kilogrammes of hydrogen fuel daily. The volume could go up to 29 kgs if the plants run round the clock.

In a bid to locally produce highly sustainable and environment-friendly hydrogen fuel, the BCSIR took up a pilot project involving Tk 54 crore for the “Establishment of Hydrogen Energy Laboratory” at its Chattogram centre in October 2018.

The main aims of the project are to conduct research, ensure quality control related to hydrogen production, provide storage and supply solutions, develop infrastructure, and provide services in the form of a national level reference centre.

In Bangladesh, the demand for hydrogen is growing in the transportation, energy and power generation, oil refining, steel, methanol, electronics and food industries.