Six months after the birth of Bangladesh, the country emerges from the ashes against the rising sun of Japan imposing dependence on obsolete fossil fuels disguised in foreign aid.
The Bangladais live in the hope. The country’s interim government is led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who has received a Nobel Prize for his microfinance work relieving poverty, After student protests led the avoidation of the 17 -year -old Sheikh Hasina Hasina. After the troubles, Japan has strengthened its commitment to “Bangladesh 2.0”.
Japan is the largest bilateral assistance provider and combined with the construction of the Bangladesh nation for 50 years and has been asking a relationship “Based on mutual trust, respect, friendship and cooperation.” No wonder Japan was responsible for formulating the Bangladesh energy plans – first in 2010 and each iteration since, including 2023 Integrated master plan of energy and energy. This plan, however, prompted Bangladesh to invest in obsolete coal power plants and imported gas facilities, and relies on unproven technologies such as carbon capture and storage.
The winners of this energy plan are not the inhabitants of Bangladesh, but the energy giants of Japan like Jera, Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation, which have dedicated fossil fuels which aggravate global warming.
Millions Bangladais, people were on the front line of the climate crisis, losing their houses and their livelihoods more frequent extreme flood and cyclone events. Bangladais are also faced with the consequences of the dangerous expansion plans for fossil fuels in Japan.
Broken as the largest help project in Japan to date, the coal-fired power plant of 1,200 megawatts Matarbari in south-eastern Bangladesh has cost $ 6 billion and employee of Japanese companies as engineering, supply and construction entrepreneurs.
Since the start of construction on Matarbari, there has been human rights violation For people from the coastal communities of the chattogram. The communities were indignant by an inadequate compensation for having lost their houses and their livelihoods.
Matarbari was so controversial that the governments of Bangladesh and Japan obliged to cancel A second new massive polluting power plant.
The most shocking is that the loan from the Matarbari coal factory is considered “climate financingBy Japan. The coal project would add 167 million tonnes of carbon dioxide during its operational years, according to the Global energy instructorequivalent to driving 39 million petrol cars for a year.
Japanese gas companies went to the Bangladesh energy and electricity sectors and have often contributed to the country’s dependence on expensive and imported gas, making it vulnerable to volatile International liquefied natural gas prices (LNG).
Jera bought 22% of Summit Power International, the largest producer of electricity independent in Bangladesh which has gas power plants and imports LNG terminals. This could allow Japan to sell their Excessive imports of LNG in Bangladesh. Summit is investigated by the Bangladesh authorities.
Real friends are not hurting. However, Japan has enclosed Bangladesh in decades of pollution and plunged the economy to rely on expensive imports of coal and LNG, Scanning For many of the country’s 170 million people.
The scope of renewable energies is minimized in the Bangladesh 2023 power master plan. The plan inflates future energy demand and proposes that in 2050, when the world aims that zero net emissions limit harmful global warming, Only 12 to 17% Bangladesh electricity will come from renewable energy sources, including wind and solar energy.
This is a missed opportunity for Japan because Bangladesh has the potential to generate 240 GW of solar energy and more than 30 GW of wind energy, according to a recent Market forces report. More investments are urgent in renewable energies, transmission and storage.
Japan has supported green financing, climate attenuation and adaptation to Bangladesh. A $ 90 million The loan agreement excluded coal, oil and gas and has promoted renewable energies, but it is tiny compared to the $ 1.5 billion This went to Matarbari the same year, classified as “help”.
However, the Japan-Bangladesh relationship turns a corner. The interim government of Bangladesh sends strong signals to Japan about the energy transition. The government led by Yunus has canceled A floating LNG import terminal offered by the summit supported by Jera, due to favoritism and the lack of transparency. A new Onshore Import Terminal of Massive LNG was canceledwho listed large Japanese companies as bidders, among international oil and gas giants. Investments are encouraged in renewable energies. A huge 1.78 gigawatts solar offer was launched last month.
The largest energy companies in Japan have the capacity and must support the boom of renewable energies. The Japanese electricity giant Jeera revealed that it aims at Develop 20 GW renewable energy by 2035, but mainly in Europe and the United States.
Bangladesh 2.0 shows positive signs to finally adopt a faster transition from imported coal and LNG to renewable energies. It is logical to reach energy sovereignty and economic prosperity for the inhabitants of Bangladesh.
It is essential that Japan acts as a real friend rather than aiming to enjoy his relationship. In the midst of lighter heat waves and serious floods, Bangladesh deserves a safer future supported by clean energy. Nations rich and Japan have a duty to help a revolution in renewable energies while allowing their companies to flourish.