Increasing the efficiency of the traditional stoves through conversion will save 3.5 crore tonnes of firewood within 10 years.

This was stated by Dr Khalequzzaman, Chief Adviser of the Sustainable Energy for Development (SED), at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday.

The government has decided to set up 20 new plants with a generation capacity of 3,551 megawatt electricity by 2014 to meet the growing demand in the country.

As per the decision, 20 power plants would be built under short-term and long-term plans in both public and private sectors.

Sale of seasonal summer fruits ripened with harmful chemical carbide continues unabated in all the markets of Narail and Jessore towns posing a serious threat to public health.

Market sources said a section of traders are selling carbide- ripened summer fruits after treating those with formalin.

President Zillur Rahman yesterday said Bhutan could export hydropower to Bangladesh to help mitigate the current power crunch here as the Himalayan country hold a huge potential for producing about 30,000-megawatt hydroelectricity. He stated this when the newly appointed Bhutanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dasho Bap Kesang, presented his credentials to the President at Bangabhaban.

The government wants to add 800MW of electricity to national grid within December next, which is impossible due to gas supply shortage, informed sources in Power Division said.

Power Development Board (PDB) source said that the Petrobangla must supply 175mmcfd of additional gas to produce 800MW of extra electricity from newly installed Independent Power Plants (IPP) within December next.

Bangladesh and Russia might sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday on installation of a nuclear power plant, officials said on Monday.

Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina provisionally approved the draft MoU, officials said last week.

A high-powered Russian delegation is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday to sign the deal.

BANGLADESH should harness potentials for wind power generation as the world is advancing at a rapid pace in the field. Global wind capacity has reportedly increased by over 27,000 megawatts, with installations up by almost 29 percent in 2008.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will place its 'Day Light Saving Time' to Cabinet Division on May 17 for getting final approval to advance each day by an hour from June 16, informed sources said.

Labour and employment, planning, industries, foreign affairs,

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Thursday invited Nigeria to invest in various fields, especially in power sector, as the apex business body presented before a delegation from the African country huge investment opportunities here.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua on Thursday said the government ensured proper supply and distribution of fertiliser in the country.