Published: 09:00 AM, 07 May 2026
‘Govt to generate 5,000MW solar power over next 5 years’
Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said a target has been set to generate 5, 000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar power over the next five years.
“As a primary step toward achieving this goal, directives have been issued to install solar panels at all Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices across the country within the next three months,” he said.
The minister shared this information while briefing journalists on Tuesday after participating in the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. About the REB’s power transmission lines, the minister said that as the transmission lines of Palli Bidyut are extensively long, it takes some time to identify any mechanical fault when it occurs.
“When power supply may be temporarily suspended due to these technical reasons, the situation returns to normal quickly after repairs, which should not be termed as general load-shedding,” he added.
Clarifying the recent power disruptions in some areas of the country, the minister said that shortage of fuel oil was not responsible. Instead, temporary mechanical glitches caused the situation, he added. He emphasized that the information regarding load-shedding due to oil scarcity is incorrect.Additionally, the minister extended special thanks to the District Commissioners for their firm role in tackling the artificial fuel crisis attempted over the last few days.
During the DC conference, field administration officials were given a detailed briefing on the current power and energy situation so they can disseminate accurate information at the local level.
The minister informed the media that the Deputy Commissioners have assured their full cooperation in expanding the renewable energy coverage. The minister said that rural electricity distribution lines are extremely long, and when any technical fault occurs, it takes some time to identify the issue.
"Due to this technical reason, there may be temporary disruptions in electricity supply, but the situation is quickly restored after repairs," he said.
The minister added that this should not generally be described as load shedding. Tuku further clarified that recent power disruptions in some parts of the country were not caused by any fuel shortage. "Rather, they occurred due to technical faults."
He strongly emphasised that claims of load shedding due to a lack of fuel are not accurate. The minister also thanked district commissioners for their strong efforts in addressing what he described as attempts to
create artificial fuel shortages in recent days.
During the DC conference, field-level officials were given a detailed briefing on the current electricity and energy situation so they can disseminate accurate information at the local level.
He also informed the media that district commissioners have assured full cooperation in expanding renewable energy initiatives.
"This environment-friendly power generation plan is being considered part of the government's Sustainable Development Goals," Tuku said. This initiative for environment-friendly power generation is considered a significant part of the government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Concluding the briefing, the minister highlighted the government’s various steps to ensure overall national energy security.
He expressed optimism that close coordination with field-level officials would play an effective role in mitigating public suffering caused by temporary power outages.
The government’s decision to start with deputy commissioner offices may help create administrative momentum, but experts say the broader success of the plan will depend on how quickly solar projects move from approval to actual generation.
Apart from solar power, the minister also addressed recent electricity disruptions in different parts of the country. He said the interruptions were caused by technical faults, not by fuel shortages. According to Tuku, rural electricity distribution lines are often very long, making it difficult to immediately identify faults when problems occur. As a result, some areas may face temporary supply interruptions, but power is restored once repairs are completed.
