The government will buy grid-supplied electricity at 10.15 taka per unit from anyone who installs rooftop solar within the next six months, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has said.
The prime minister made the comment Wednesday while answering a question from reserved women’s seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Monir during the question-and-answer session on the third day of the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
Delivering the good news for homeowners, he said the government would pay the excess over the bulk rate as an incentive. Against an average production cost of 6-7 taka per unit, he said, this would create the opportunity for profit margins of up to 45%. The facility will apply for the next three years.
The prime minister said the current government has taken a range of steps to boost the use of renewable energy in tackling the energy crisis and to build interest among the general public.
He said the government’s Internal Resources Division had, as of June 8, conditionally waived all customs duty, regulatory duty, supplementary duty, advance tax and the additional 2% advance income tax applicable to essential solar-power equipment such as solar panels, inverters and batteries.
On the government’s rooftop solar initiative, the prime minister said: “A national rooftop solar program has been launched to install rooftop solar systems on the roofs of government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals and other important structures across the country. A guideline has been prepared to implement that program.”
“Special allocations have already been given to various ministries, divisions and agencies,” he said. “Rooftop solar systems have already been installed at the offices of all deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners across the country.”
Alongside solar power, the prime minister said initiatives have also been taken to generate electricity from hydropower, wind power and waste. “I hope that once these initiatives are implemented, it will be possible to address the energy crisis and increase the use of renewable energy,” he said.