AHSAN HABIB

As many factories scramble for diesel to keep generators running during load-shedding, production lines at Ha-Meem Group hum on without interruption.

The difference is overhead. Over the past few years, Ha-Meem, one of the country’s largest garment exporters, has turned its rooftops into power plants, installing 12 megawatts of solar capacity at a cost of Tk 54 crore.

The investment was steep, but it is currently paying off.

“… now we are getting a good advantage. For example, during load-shedding, it works as a backup,” said AK Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group.

Ha-Meem’s solar system does more than keep sewing machines running. When output exceeds demand, surplus electricity flows back to the national grid under a net metering arrangement, trimming the company’s electricity bill.

Azad said that without solar power, the group would have faced serious difficulties. Frequent load-shedding and a worsening fuel shortage, caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, have pushed up costs across the production sector.

The situation has become so acute that the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) recently urged the government to prioritise diesel supplies for factories through nearby filling stations.