Big push for solar, waste-based power

The government yesterday gave a big push to its renewable energy and waste-based power generation drive as it approved five projects with a combined electricity production capacity of 223.5 megawatts. The cabinet committee on public purchase gave the go-ahead to the projects to be implemented by mainly Chinese companies. The government will purchase electricity from the projects for a period of 20 to 25 years. The approval came as the government outlined the country’s ambitious goal of generating more than 4,100 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 in its updated Nationally Determined Contributions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change before the COP26. The cabinet approved a waste-based 42.5-MW power plant in the Gazipur City Corporation area. The government will purchase electricity for 25 years from Canves Environmental Investment Company Ltd of China at Tk 17.20 per kilowatt-hour of power. The city corporation will supply 2,500 tonnes of mixed-waste per day to the plant after collecting them from city-dwellers. The estimated investment will be about $450 million and Canves will bear the cost. The joint venture will also set up a 68-MW solar power plant in Sirajganj Sadar upazila. Each unit will cost Tk 8.16. Cyclect Energy Pte. Ltd of Singapore will build a 50-MW solar power plant in Chuadanga’s Jibannagar upazila. The government will buy electricity at Tk 8.16 per unit. Western Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd will set up a 3MW solar-battery, diesel-based hybrid power plant in Monpura upazila of Bhola. Each unit will cost Tk 21.25.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/big-push-solar-waste-based-power-2913246

HSBC structures gender equality indexed loan for DBL Group

HSBC Bangladesh has structured a sustainability linked loan targeting the fifth Sustainable Development Goal of gender equality, for DBL Group, one of the largest knit garment manufacturers and exporters in the country. Sustainability linked loans aim to improve the borrower’s sustainability profile by aligning loan terms to the borrower’s performance against pre-determined “Sustainability Performance Target” benchmarks, the bank said in a statement yesterday. The bank has an ambition to provide between $750 billion and $1 trillion of sustainable finance and investments by 2030 to help them achieve this, to accelerate new climate solutions and inspire our customer to invest to support positive change.

 Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/hsbc-structures-gender-equality-indexed-loan-dbl-group-2913206

30 firms awarded for green initiatives

The labour ministry presented the “Green Factory Award” to 30 firms in six categories yesterday for their outstanding contribution in saving the environment and employment creation. Begum Monnujan Sufian, state minister for labour and employment, handed over the awards at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the event virtually. The recipients include 15 garment factories, three food processing companies, four tea estates, two leather goods industries, three plastic factories and three pharmaceutical factories. The state minister also said the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments has created 31 health guidelines to operate factories during the Covid-19 time. Some 23 central and zonal crisis management committees have worked during the most severe phases of the pandemic to help attain sustainable environments, she said. Bangladesh is the global leader having 152 green garment buildings, of which 44 are platinum rated, 93 gold and nine silver while four gained a “Leadership in Environmental and Energy in Design” certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Of the top 10 green garment factories, nine are in Bangladesh. More than 500 garment factories are waiting to be certified by the USGBC for green initiatives.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/organisation-news/news/30-firms-awarded-green-initiatives-2913236

Sonali Bank opened 148th ATM booth

Sonali Bank Limited opened its 148th ATM booth on the bank’s Savar branch premises on Wednesday. Deputy Managing Director Md Murshedul Kabir along with other officials inaugurated the booth.

Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/sonali-bank-opened-148th-atm-booth-1638984932