Hydropower Development Along the Major Rivers Basins in South Asia: Benefits for Bangladesh

Abstract

Electricity demand in Bangladesh is much higher than the electricity generation capacity of the country. The generation of electricity in Bangladesh mainly depends on natural gas that is a non-renewable resource. In 2017, the total electricity generation capacity was 13,621 MW of which natural gas contributed 62.62% of electricity generation. This is an unsustainable and alarming trend for Bangladesh, because after 15-20 years, natural gas reserves in the country will run out. The future electricity demand of Bangladesh in 2035 will be around 87,991 MW. Finding out how to fulfill the future electricity demand of Bangladesh and to what extent hydropower development along the Brahmaputra basin, Ganges basin and Myanmar could help meet the energy demand in Bangladesh are the main objectives of this research. Nepal, Bhutan, India, China, Myanmar all of these South Asian countries have huge hydropower potential. After meeting domestic electricity demand, these hydropower-rich countries could export excess electricity to neighboring countries like Bangladesh and India. The findings of this study suggest that by collaborating with all hydropower-rich South Asian countries, Bangladesh could meet its future electricity demand.