Grameenphone hosted a panel discussion titled “Greening the Grid” at its corporate office in the capital Dhaka, a press release said Monday in pursuit of bridging the policy gap and advocating for Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) policies to achieve its climate target.
The panel discussion aims to promote policy reforms concerning Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) in Bangladesh, essential for supporting Grameenphone’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030, from the baseline year 2019.
Nahim Razzaq MP, Convenor of Climate Parliament Bangladesh, Erik Solheim, former Minister of Environment and International Development of Norway, Espen Rikter-Svendsen, HE Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh, ED Elrahal – Chief of Party, Tetra Tech- USAID-BADGE Project, Engr. Mohammad Hossain – Director General, Power Cell Bangladesh, and Hans Martin Hoegh Henrichsen, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Grameenphone addressed the programme as panelists. They highlighted the importance of the CPPA policy.
Grameenphone’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Hans Martin Hoegh Henrichsen said, they are committed to reducing carbon emissions from its operations. He emphasized the essential role of Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) in achieving this objective. He also addressed the challenges faced by private sector entities in implementing this model, while also emphasizing the advantages of supportive policies, such as attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and assisting in meeting the government’s renewable energy targets. He also highlighted how ESG is vital for achieving the Paris Agreement’s objectives by promoting sustainability and cutting down carbon emissions.
Erik Solheim, Former Minister of Environment and International Development, Norway, shared insights from Norway’s grid greening experience and explored international best practices for Bangladesh to glean from in its transition towards renewable energy sources.
Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh emphasized the significance of international partnerships in bolstering Bangladesh’s efforts to green its grid, while also discussing Norway’s readiness to aid in this transition.
ED Elrahal, Chief of Party at Tetra Tech, underscored the involvement of development partners such as USAID and Tetra Tech in offering capacity building and technical assistance to Bangladesh for the implementation of CPPAs. He provided examples of successful initiatives and outlined strategies for overcoming barriers to adoption.
Engr. Mohammad Hossain, Director General of Power Cell Bangladesh, highlighted the technical aspects of integrating renewable energy sources into Bangladesh’s national grid, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities involved in this process and its connection to the adoption of CPPAs.
Nahim Razzaq MP, Convenor of Climate Parliament Bangladesh, wrapped up the discussion by stressing the existing legislative framework in Bangladesh concerning CPPAs and underscoring the essential policy changes needed to facilitate their adoption. He discussed the involvement of parliamentary committees in propelling policy reform in this domain.
