Energy & power- our vital resources

I fully agree with the piece “Energy is not a service” published in your daily on 10th February. In fact, one can say that after air and water, electricity is the only resource that is essentially needed to sustain a normal life on earth. However, to produce electricity, except for hydro and solar power, we are totally dependent on fossil fuel. We are now so used to relatively cheap natural gas that the people in the power generation sector take it for granted, possibly till eternity without realising that in a couple of decades, this too will become a scarce resource for power generation. Have we any long term plan to overcome it? Sadly, NO.

Time is rushing by, we must maximise all possible options available, and the sooner the better for us. How about wind power? We also have abundant human solid waste, the use of which we consider a taboo; this can also be a potential resource for power generation. If mixed with kitchen and animal waste, this can be used as fuel for generating electricity. Government must go all out for having essential fuel to meet our expanding need for electric power.

Engr. S. A. Mansoor
Dhaka