Dhaka: Bangladesh joined 74 countries in signing the Energy Charter aimed at attaining sustainable energy development, improving energy security and maximizing the efficiency of production, conversion, transport and distribution, according to a message received here today.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sheikh Mohammed Belal signed the Charter on behalf of the government at the Ministerial Conference on the International Energy in Hague, capital of the Netherlands recently.

The Charter emphasized working towards access to energy for citizens in emerging and developing economies. Belal congratulated the Energy Charter Secretariat for organising the global conference and also sought global cooperation for Bangladesh’s quest for middle income country by 2021, the release said.

The envoy informed the conference that Bangladesh is working towards production of 24,000 Megawatt (MW) electricity by 2021 which will be increased to 40,000 MW by 2030 and the 50 per cent power will come from coal, using ultra super critical technology.

Bangladesh also wished to add a significant part of this production from renewable energy sources. Accordingly, Bangladesh mulls investment to the tune of 10 billion US dollars in next three years and another 8 billion US dollars in the following seven years, he said.

In order to meet the growing energy, Bangladesh is not only pursuing an innovative public private partnership (PPP) within the country, but working with neighbouring countries in establishing a regional energy network through regional cooperation frameworks like SAARC, SASEC and BIMSTEC, Ambassador Belal apprised the audience.

Earlier, the International Energy Charter was inaugurated at a local hotel by Henk Kamp, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. Bert Koenders, Minister for Foreign Affairs also spoke during the inauguration ceremony.