DHAKA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government aims to generate 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar power before next summer, a minister said on Thursday.
Speaking at a meeting in the western Rajshahi city, the Bangladeshi Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, said the move aims to tackle the global energy crisis and rising electricity generation costs.
The minister stressed the need for individual initiatives to increase renewable energy generation.
Currently, Bangladesh's overall power generation has remained around 13,000 to 14,000 MW, against a demand of about 16,000 to 17,000 MW during high-demand periods.
Against this backdrop, the country is grappling with a power crisis as prolonged electricity cuts disrupt daily life, agriculture, businesses and industry, with the situation worsening during the summer months. ■