Rooftop solar power law to be passed in next parliament session: power minister

The law on rooftop solar power generation will be passed in the next session of parliament, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud has said. He made the remarks on Saturday (October 31) at a roundtable organised by the New Age newspaper in the capital.

The minister said the fuel and power problems arising from the global situation will not be solved overnight. However, the government is making tireless efforts to keep fuel and power supplies tolerable, and its efforts for public welfare will continue, he said.

He said that because of the global crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, the government had no option but to decide on subsidies where necessary to tackle the fuel crisis. The step was taken to reduce the pressure of fuel shortages on the public. Ensuring uninterrupted power and gas supplies to citizens is one of the government's main responsibilities, the minister said.

The minister also said initiatives have been taken to set up more FSRUs (floating storage and regasification units), or floating LNG terminals, considering demand in order to keep fuel supplies normal. In his view, this will play a helpful role in removing the supply shortfall.

Saying special priority is being given to solar power, the minister said a domestic rooftop programme has been launched in Bhaluka. Through it, interest in using solar power in homes will be created.

In reply to a question on controlling the quality of solar panels, he said the government is alert, aware and active in controlling the quality of solar power products in the country's market. There will be special monitoring to protect the public interest.

The minister further said local government, the health department and district administrations have already been instructed to use solar power systems. A total of 8,600 service providers have been enlisted to install solar power systems at the local level. Employment opportunities are also being created in the country through solar power, he said.

He said the government is always beside the people and is working to maintain the country's overall energy security.