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The long and serpentine queue at the refuelling station is a simple reminder that the world cannot run without fuel. In the current situation, we have to consider various options to address the energy crisis in Bangladesh. Bangladesh, like many other countries, is suffering due to the oil crisis caused by the most recent geopolitical war. Wars are waged for the control of natural resources, driven by resource magnetism. The colonial era was heavily motivated by the plundering of natural and cultural resources.
Some farmers are concerned about the possibility of irrigation amid the oil crisis caused by the insane war. Some are already using solar energy to run deep tube wells to irrigate the agricultural land. Unfortunately, even in the age of aluminum, dependence on fossil fuels is still the dominant practice. In a country with abundant sun and wind power, the reliance on fossil fuels is incomprehensible. Power generators in urban areas to keep the flow of uninterrupted electricity to home and office infrastructures also rely on diesel. Even electric vehicles’ charging stations are run by fossil fuels.
In Borolekha, Bangladesh, an oil mine has been sitting idle for a long time without being utilized for extraction. We know the impact of oil drilling on the environment. If this oil mine were used, it would be a disaster for the adjacent environment. Oil mining always contaminates the water sources, making the local ecosystem suffer and crumble.
Brazil has reduced its dependence on fossil fuels and has been using ethanol to fuel vehicles. So, whenever there is a price hike or scarcity of oil, they are the least affected. Sugarcane-based ethanol is better than maize-based ethanol for the environment. In Brazil, many vehicles run on pure ethanol alongside mixed-type fuels. It is setting examples for other countries to follow.
In India, E-20 (20% ethanol and 80% petrol) is used in vehicles to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Contrary to popular myth, it does not harm the engine and leaves a smaller carbon footprint compared to 100% fossil fuels. Although the mileage might be a little less, the environment would be saved more if vehicles were more dependent on ethanol.
Used Cooking Oil (UCO) can be an alternative to fossil fuels. Singapore is experimenting with the use of UCO and is keen on converting all vehicles to run on this renewable fuel. Instead of throwing away and using the same cooking oil again and again, posing a big threat to the consumers’ health, it has gone for an alternative use.
Spain is also experimenting with the possibility of using used frying oil to fuel airplanes. As a logical outcome, it could move to other vehicles to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is the goal of the industry to deal with the growing carbon footprint.
In Chile, recycled cooking oil is used by different vehicles to act responsibly to save the rivers, jungles, and streams from carbon build-up. They are happy that they are doing something to make a difference in the environment. Although they have to filter used cooking oil regularly to keep the engine moving, at the end of the day, they remain optimistic that positive changes can be brought about by responsible actions.
Bangladesh can think about the possibility of using UCO to deal with the fuel crisis and go for greener solutions. Instead of exporting UCO to other countries, it should tap its huge production of Used Cooking Oil.
Pakistan has become dependent on solar energy to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity. Instead of looking at oil-rich countries for fuel, Pakistan is relying on solar power to solve its problem of electricity crisis. It can be a good example for other countries to follow the example and deal with their respective problems. Bangladesh is also in a good position to utilize solar energy to minimize the problem of frequent blackouts.
Nuclear power is not a good option for producing electricity. Even though it is very cheap, the cost of a nuclear disaster is huge. Japan, despite being the victim of a nuclear bomb, trusted the uranium-derived energy. But they learned the harshest lesson when there was a nuclear fallout caused by a tsunami in Fukushima.
Disasters in Chornobyl and Fukushima should help us wake up from the dream of becoming a nuclear power in producing electricity in Bangladesh. Rooppur nuclear power plant is a constant threat to the environment due to its probable fallout. It would be very difficult for the government of Bangladesh to deal with the cost of any future disaster. Our politicians can easily abscond if there is any disaster or a change in the political scenario, but the local people have to pay the price for generations.
Hydroelectric projects like the Kaptai Hydroelectric dam were a nightmare for the local people of Rangamati, who lost their ancestral land to the artificially created lake. Projects like this are disastrous for those whose homelands are taken away by a huge reservoir. Hydroelectric projects have become an ineffective method to produce electricity as they victimize locals by submerging their homelands.
Like other countries, kitchen garbage should be used to produce electricity. Right now, it is used only in landfills, which does nothing to meet the growing electricity demand. As a result, tons of kitchen garbage are wasted. In the coming years, Bangladesh can think about this possibility to address the energy issue.
We can say that Bangladesh should diversify its fuel sources to deal with the energy crisis. It is very sad that despite having various options, we are concerned about the reserves of fossil fuels. Dependence on other countries for fuel is a suicidal step. Although a globalized world indeed calls for international trade, sole dependence on imported products will be lethal for the country’s energy-economy complex.
The oil refinery that Bangladesh has is designed for refining crude petroleum, which is heavily dependent on oil imports; instead, it should focus more on refining kitchen oil for meeting future demand. Bangladesh should install its own refinery for processing frying oil like Spain and the UAE. In an increasingly precarious world, alternative energy sources should be the top priority of the new Bangladesh.
