FROM PAGE 3

Highlighting the urgency of renewable energy, Razia said, “Solar is coming, whether the government wants it or not. Look at Pakistan, where consumers and industry shifted without waiting for policy.”

“Solar is our future. We must make the transition easier for investors while ensuring regulations remain both investment- and environment-friendly.”

Md Rafiqul Islam, additional secretary and a member of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council, suggested using the country’s 7.8 billion metric tonnes of coal reserves to run its existing 7,000MW coal-based power capacity.

Prabir De, professor at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries in New Delhi, proposed a regional oil refinery and stronger cross-border energy cooperation to reduce vulnerability to price shocks.

He noted that supply chain disruptions recently forced India to revise its GDP growth forecast down from 7.6 percent to 6.7 percent. Despite importing 90 percent of its crude oil, India is building resilience through refining capacity, ethanol blending, and diversified sourcing.

From a Himalayan perspective, Nabina Adhikari highlighted Nepal’s rapid shift to electric vehicles following fuel disruptions in 2015. She said 70 percent of four-wheelers imported into Nepal are now electric.

She also stressed regional hydropower cooperation, noting that Nepal and Bhutan can stabilise regional grids by exporting surplus electricity during wet seasons.

The panel concluded that addressing the energy crisis will require an integrated approach—accelerating solar adoption with battery storage, improving industrial efficiency, and strengthening regional energy cooperation.