Load-shedding to ease from next week Energy Minister

Nationwide load shedding is expected to decline from next week as the overall electricity supply situation improves, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said on Monday.

Speaking as chief guest at the Fourth Bangladesh–China Renewable Energy Forum in Dhaka, organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue, the minister indicated that power shortages could fall significantly within a week.

Load shedding is projected to drop to around 800–900 megawatts, signalling a noticeable improvement in supply.

However, he acknowledged persistent financial challenges within the power sector, noting that approximately Tk56,000 crore in payments to power plants remain outstanding.

These unpaid dues, he said, have made it difficult to import essential fuels such as coal and oil, thereby affecting power generation.

“The government is working to clear the arrears owed to power plants.

These liabilities have complicated fuel imports, but efforts are underway to resolve the issue promptly,” he said.

Outlining longer-term plans, the minister stressed that the government is prioritising renewable energy as a sustainable response to recurring power shortages.

A target has been set to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar power within the next five years.

To achieve this, the government is considering the use of unused land owned by Bangladesh Railway and various ministries, in an effort to address land constraints that often delay large-scale solar projects.

Solar power initiatives are also being developed in riverine char areas, with some projects already progressing in districts such as Sirajganj.

The minister added that a range of incentives, including tax benefits, is under consideration to attract both domestic and foreign investment in the solar energy sector.

These measures are intended to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy while reducing reliance on conventional sources.

He also highlighted plans to expand household participation in power generation by allowing electricity produced from rooftop solar panels to be fed into the n

tional grid.

This initiative is expected to encourage wider adoption of renewable energy and contribute to overall electricity supply.

The minister’s remarks reflect cautious optimism over short-term improvements in load shedding, alongside a broader strategy to strengthen long-term energy security through renewable energy development.