We need more specialised engineers!

It is difficult for a developing country with limited energy resources like ours to generate enough electricity to meet the demand. In accordance with the PSMP 2010, the government is following a balanced energy policy to implement the plan of generating 24,000 MWe by 2021 and 39,000 MWe by 2030. To achieve this target, the government wants to reduce the most commonly used natural gas and oil by strengthening coal use, adding LNG and nuclear energy to the fuel mix and boosting the renewable energy sector.

The government is also investing in oil and gas exploration for the sake of the future energy security. Again, to nourish the energy and power sectors through R&D activities, the government has established the Energy and Power Research Council and Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority. The government is making new laws, policies and regulations to ensure the efficiency, accountability, and transparency of the energy and power sectors and to ensure quality customer service by supplying electricity at an affordable cost. To turn all these efforts into a successful endeavor, however, the first and foremost task will be to develop skilled human resources. 

On September 23 during an episode of Energypac power talk, a talk show on ATN, State Minister, Energy and Power said that there were thousands of engineers needed in this booming sector. However, there were no petroleum or mining engineers in the country. He also said that some of the engineers from BUET, after entering this sector and becoming skilled through acquiring practical knowledge for 4-5 years, do not stay in these organisations because they move abroad. Basically he was trying to point out that lack of skilled and talented engineers in the energy and power sectors were hampering government's development programmes. 

Let us shift our focus to the fresh engineering graduates who have finished their university education should be eligible for jobs in this sector. To my knowledge, the public and the private universities are altogether producing about 13,000 engineers a year. Among them, about 2,500 fresh engineering graduates, e.g., 1,500 in EEE, 600 in mechanical, 300 in chemical and 90 in petroleum and mining engineers are ready to work these sectors. Assuming 10 percent of them will enter into the teaching profession and 30 percent of them will go abroad, this leaves only 1,500 available for this sector. The demand for these 1,500 engineers in the energy and power sectors needs to be assessed.

A thermal/nuclear power plant with a capacity of 1,000 MWe requires around 400 engineers. As of now, there are 33 government and private owned power plants under construction including two nuclear plants. Meanwhile 18 are in the tendering process and 6 are being planned. If, on an average, a 1,000 MWe power plant is put into operation each year, 400 engineers will be needed. In addition, 101 existing power plants are needed to operate and maintain on routine-wise. Also, there are 13 organisations under Petrobangla that are involved in the exploration, transmission and distribution of oil, gas, and mineral resources. They too have a demand for skilled manpower. I have not even mentioned the demand in research and private organisations and NGOs. Since there is a shortage, is it not necessary to take appropriate measures to increase the number of seats as needed in the universities for these disciplines and to build appropriate laboratories and  infrastructure for quality learning?

Despite the opportunity of having higher salaries in the energy and power sectors of both government and private sectors, talented and skilled engineers are still turning their back on this promising and lucrative sector. So policy makers must find out why. Under the power sector reform programme, the government has split the generation and distribution responsibilities of the PDB and has formed separate production and distribution companies. It is being said that the implementation of the reform programme is very important to ensure the participation of the private sector in generation and distribution, to improve the efficiency of the power sector in a competitive environment, to improve customer service and to ensure accountability. However, taking advantage of this reform programme, many non-technical personnel are getting into the board of directors of the newly created generation and distribution companies. Take, for example, the nine member board of directors of the North West Power Distribution Company. The ratio of technical to non-technical personnel here is 3:6. It's easy to see how much the skilled and experienced engineers are being evaluated in taking important decisions. Nowadays, the trend among engineers of going abroad is expected to decrease due to higher salaries and allowances in this sector. But ensuring a minimal level of job satisfaction will be an issue while they will be controlled by non-technical personnel despite their high salaries. We may take into consideration what countries like India, Malaysia, China, Vietnam etc. are doing to keep the young and talented engineers in this sector.

It is a big challenge now to increase the workforce and create skilled manpower for the growing energy and power sectors. Although a significant number of private organisations have come forward in the generation of electricity, no one is emphasising on developing skilled manpower. If the policymakers of the energy and power sectors consider the following recommendations, it may be somewhat helpful for skilled HRDs.

The government, should give due importance to provide adequate budget for the related academic and research organisations in the same way that it is prioritising the energy and power sectors' growth.

Talented engineers should be recruited; they should be given promotions at the right time according to their qualifications and skill. Experienced engineers should be posted at important positions and given the opportunity to work independently.

Immediate initiative should be taken to establish the Bangladesh Power Sector Management Institute for proper maintenance and skilled operation of more than a hundred fossil fuel and renewable energy based power plants and to facilitate R&D activities. Adequate training should be provided to engineers working in this sector to develop their skills. Retired local and foreign engineers experienced in the operations and management of power plants, professors and researchers expert on energy and power should be recruited as faculties in this institution.

A department on energy science and engineering should be introduced at every public university. The purpose of teaching this course is to acquire the in-depth knowledge on energy policy, energy law, energy planning, energy diplomacy, energy financing, energy exploration, energy trading, energy management, energy efficiency, energy audits, energy culture, etc. Usually conventional engineering courses (mechanical, electrical, chemical, petroleum and mining) do not address these issues.   

If good governance, a corruption free work environment and political stability is ensured, it will not take long for the energy and power sectors to turn around. Uninterrupted power will be ensured at every home. Bangladesh will progress further.

The writer is  Associate Professor at Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka. 
Email: msislam@du.ac.bd