Implications of Transport Policies on Energy and Environment in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world with a per capita income of approximately US $520 in 2006. High population density, poor resource management, and numerous natural disasters coupled with frequent political turmoil have affected the economic and social development of the country over the past two decades. As the new millennium begins, our society faces the task of creating a transportation system that expands the energy resources available for mobility while reducing negative effects on the environment. The history of transport development all over the world is a process of gradual evolution. Bangladesh is not an exception in this regard. Over centuries a varied and complex transport system has developed in this country on account of its various geographical features and historical facts. Achieving future goals for transportation energy efficiency and conservation, requires an understanding of how much energy is consumed by the transportation sector and how the transportation sector affects energy consumption in other areas. This study is designed to find out present energy consumption and environmental emission by our transportation sector and consequently projected future energy demand and environmental emission trends. To calculate the total energy consumption by each vehicle, total vehicle number and vehicle km driven by that type of vehicle has been collected. Then based on the fuel efficiency, total consumption is calculated and compared to the base data. At the same time environmental emission data per gm/lt has been collected to calculate the total CO, SOz and NOz emissions. Future energy and emissions trend is projected from 2003 to 2030. Monetary value required to import the product is also calculated based on with CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) conversion policy and also without CNG conversion policy. Results demonstrate that the differences are highly recognizable. If 50% of total vehicle and 90% of Taxi and Autorickshaw are converted to CNG driven vehicle by 2030 and also some portion of people are diverted to use public transport rather than private vehicles, total amount of energy savings would be approximately 600 Trillion BTU in year 2030. Correspondingly, the environmental emissions would be also reduced a great amount. Transport sector ensures about 60% of imported total fuel cutting that of nation about US 2.5 million v Dollar. It may increase to 20 Million by the year of 2030. In addition to energy consumption and environmental emission calculation, this study also examines different type of land transport policy and energy policy taken by Government, which could reduce dependency on petroleum and thus lessen the harmful emission in our environment. In this regard, different type of alternative options and their relative acceptability are analyzed in respect of our country.