A special parliamentary committee has recommended expanding Bangladesh’s fuel storage capacity to cover at least three months of national demand, warning that stronger long-term measures are needed to protect the country’s energy security.
The recommendations were submitted to Parliament on Sunday through a report presented by Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood.
Formed in April to review the country`s energy situation, the 10-member committee said recent challenges highlighted the need for a more resilient and diversified energy system. The panel included representatives from both the ruling party and the opposition.
The report stressed that while immediate energy concerns have been managed, Bangladesh should focus on long-term reforms, infrastructure development and a broader energy strategy to reduce future risks.
Among its major recommendations, the committee called for increasing strategic fuel reserves, diversifying fuel import sources and modernising the fuel supply chain through automation and digital monitoring systems.
The panel also urged stronger legal action against fuel smuggling and illegal stockpiling, while encouraging greater use of alternative energy sources such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), solar power and other renewable technologies.
Several key infrastructure projects were identified as priorities, including the Dhaka-Chattogram pipeline, the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project and the Eastern Refinery Limited Unit-2 expansion project.
The committee further recommended public awareness campaigns to promote energy conservation and suggested examining the possibility of allowing private companies to import fuel alongside the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
To support renewable energy growth, the report proposed mandatory rooftop solar installations and stronger monitoring to ensure existing solar systems remain operational.
The recommendations also included reducing system losses and adopting a balanced approach to power generation using oil, gas, coal, solar and wind energy.
Opposition lawmakers on the committee submitted 10 separate recommendations, all of which were incorporated into the report.
They called for independent energy demand forecasting, cautioning against overly optimistic projections that could lead to unnecessary investment in new power generation capacity.
The opposition members also advocated greater use of domestic energy resources, including coal and natural gas, along with faster exploration activities and improved gas production from existing fields.
Other proposals included strengthening fuel import and refining facilities, expanding solar power generation and developing a long-term national roadmap for sustainable energy supply through consultation with experts and political stakeholders.
The report concluded that a diversified energy mix would help reduce dependence on any single source while supporting the country`s long-term energy and economic stability.
