In a strategic move to bridge policy gaps and champion Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) policies, Grameenphone orchestrated a pivotal panel discussion titled “Greening the Grid” at its corporate headquarters in Dhaka. The discourse aimed at propelling policy reforms vital for supporting Grameenphone’s ambitious target of slashing CO2 emissions by 50% before 2030, benchmarked against the year 2019.
During the discussion, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Hans Martin Hoegh Henrichsen reaffirmed Grameenphone’s dedication to carbon emission reduction. He underscored the pivotal role of CPPAs in realizing this commitment, addressing the challenges faced by private sector entities while emphasizing the advantageous outcomes of supportive policies. Henrichsen highlighted how embracing Corporate Power Purchase Agreements not only aligns with sustainability goals but also attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and aids in meeting governmental renewable energy targets, in addition to bolstering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives aligned with the Paris Agreement.
Erik Solheim, Former Minister of Environment and International Development, Norway, brought international insights to the discussion, drawing from Norway’s successful grid greening experience. He explored best practices applicable to Bangladesh’s transition toward renewable energy sources.
Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen highlighted the significance of international partnerships in fortifying Bangladesh’s green grid efforts, expressing Norway’s readiness to support this transition. ED Elrahal, Chief of Party at Tetra Tech, emphasized the role of development partners like USAID and Tetra Tech in providing capacity building and technical assistance to Bangladesh for CPPA implementation.
Engr. Mohammad Hossain, Director General of Power Cell Bangladesh, delved into the technical aspects of integrating renewable energy into the national grid, shedding light on challenges and opportunities. Nahim Razzaq MP, Convenor of Climate Parliament Bangladesh, concluded the discussion by emphasizing the existing legislative framework and advocating essential policy changes for streamlined CPPA adoption, showcasing the active involvement of parliamentary committees in propelling policy reform in this domain.
