Online Desk: Sweden has offered Bangladesh to work for green transition in the garment sector on partnership basis.

The European nation made the offer when its ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg Von Linde met State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Sunday at his ministry office at the secretariat.

The Swedish envoy also discussed how to contribute more to the development of renewable energy in Bangladesh.

During this meeting they discussed various issues related to mutual interest.

The ambassador, while discussing green transition, renewable energy and Sweden’s position on the issue, said Sweden and Swedish companies have been working with Bangladesh in the garment sector for almost 40 years and H&M, IKEA and Lindex are among them.

Welcoming the ambassador Nasrul Hamid said that Bangladesh is working sincerely to promote renewable energy.

He informed the Swedish envoy that generation of 12,047 MW of electricity from renewable energy sources is ongoing and under process.

Of this, implementation of some solar power projects having 3253 MW capacity are in progress and another 7861 MW solar power projects are under process.

He said more research is needed on wind power, although wind mapping has already been completed.

The state minister hoped that by 2041, 40 percent of total electricity will come from clean energy.

“One of our challenges is to ensure uninterrupted electricity for all at an affordable cost. Renewable energy requires huge investment”, he told the ambassador.

He emphasised development and expansion of smart grid and transmission and distribution systems for their further modernisation.

“The government is trying to increase the share of renewable energy in the national grid,” he added.

Lovisa Hofmann, the Head of Political, Trade and Communication Department of the Embassy of Sweden, was present on the occasion.