Md Towhidur Rahman :
Good governance is a major challenge in the energy sector of any country. It has already proved as an impediment to governments achieving all round success in power and energy sector over the last few years.
Accreditation can be used as a tool for ensuring efficiency and good governance in the energy sector. Accreditation is the independent evaluation by an authoritative body of conformity assessment bodies, against recognized national and international standards, to carry out specific activities in order to ensure their integrity, impartiality and competence. As a result of this process, governments and private sector procurers and consumers can have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection reports, and certifications provided in the provision of energy.
The use of accredited services can also moderate the need for additional legislation, as well as reducing the risk of unintended consequences. Accreditation ultimately provides a reliable monitoring tool to support the industries and economies exploring renewable energy sources.The first step in any path to the future is more wise use of the energy resources, also referred-to as conservation. This would include elimination of obvious waste, higher energy conversion efficiency, substitution for lower energy-intensity products and processes, recycling, and more energy modest lifestyles.
Presently, Bangladesh has energy supply from both renewable and non-renewable sources. Seventy five percent of the commercial energy is provided from natural gas. Imported oil accounts for the rest of the energy requirements. Gas operatives demonstrating competence at assessment centers approved by accredited certification bodies can be used to ensure efficient transmission & distribution of gas system. Besides, government can take the benefits of using accredited laboratories for carrying out testing on fuels and oils in order to ensure that they meet the specifications for their intended purpose. This ranges from testing the sulphur content to ensuring the correct additives are present in the right concentrations, to the presence of bacterial or fuel degradation contaminants. These range from chemical tests such as determination of sulphur content and water solubility tests to determine the presence of water soluble additives in fuels, or microbiological tests such as the determination of the presence of bacterial contaminants or fuel degradation levels, to physical tests such as the determination of relative density of fuel samples.
Appreciating the critical importance of Energy & Power Sector in the economic development of Bangladesh and its contribution to achieving appreciable growth of GDP, the government is consistently taking initiatives to upgrade the energy infrastructure of Bangladesh. Like the U.S ENERGY STAR programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agencywhich include requirements that test data from third-party laboratories come from labs accredited by signatories to the ILAC MRA where participation is voluntary rather than mandatory, Our Government can also rely on accredited testing and certification of renewable energy products to provide confidence in the market. Products such as PPV Solar panels, LED bulbs etc. can be tested in an accredited laboratory to measure performance, durability, safety and environmentally friendly considerations. Installation companies need to gain accredited certification to demonstrate compliance. Government will be benefitted by reduced pollution, energy costs, increased competition, as well as informed supplier selection by setting accreditation requirements for tenders.
Following the policy adopted by Mexico to facilitate the reduction of emissions in energy consumption by replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs and the project of energy-efficient refrigeration to reduce energy consumptions, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) & BSTI can take pivotal role in developing & implementing Energy-Efficiency (EE) standards and regulations that prescribe the energy performance of manufactured products e.g. electronic equipment, refrigerators, air conditioners and water heaters and reduction of emissions in energy consumption by replacing incandescent light bulbs &compact fluorescent light bulbs with LEDs. To demonstrate compliance with mandatory standards& regulations products shall be certified (STAR Labelling) and tested by accredited third parties.
There are a variety of examples of where ISO 50001 – Energy management systems has been used. One of the leading examples is in Germany where, the new German voluntary agreement with energy intensive industry entered into force in 2013. Industries that comply with the terms of the agreement are eligible for a tax rebate on energy tax. Under the new agreement companies need to introduce energy management systems or audits until the end of 2015 with certification according to ISO 50001′. Since the no of industries having implemented ISO 50001 is very negligible, Government can also encourage the use of ISO 50001 giving some advantages in energy intensive industries especially in textile & garment, power plants, steel mills, cement industries etc. to ensure more efficient energy usage and improve environmental performance through the development of an energy management system (EnMS) from BAB accredited certification body.
Now a good no of vehicles are CNG driven and compressed gas cylinders are being used in home, restaurants and small industries. According to the recommendation of cylinder manufacturer, cylinder re-testing is required in every five years from cylinder manufacturing date. Regulators should impose the suppliers/manufacturers to be certified from accredited certification bodies and re-testing to be done from accredited testing laboratories to ensure proper measurement and safety of using CNG cylinder. Similar regulation should be done for Liquefied petroleum gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPGor LP gas) cylinder as its demand is going to increase in the next few years.
Regulators dealing with power generation and fuel reprocessing can recognize the ILAC MRA for licensees and suppliers of basic components for use on power plants by using laboratory accreditation by Accreditation Bodies (ABs) that are signatories to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) which will replace the need to perform commercial-grade surveys for the procurement of calibration and testing services performed by domestic and international laboratories accredited by signatories to the ILAC MRA.
BAB, the only national accreditation authority in Bangladesh, is the Full member and Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC). BAB has good rapports and cooperation with different international peer organizations. BAB holds different membership status of Pacific Accreditation cooperation (PAC), SAARC Expert Group on Accreditation (SEGA) and Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) Accreditation Committee (AC).
BAB provides accreditation to different testing, calibration and medical laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies and training institute of Bangladesh. So Government and regulatory bodies can take the services of BAB to support policy delivery across a wide range of activities.
Good governance is a major challenge in the energy sector of any country. It has already proved as an impediment to governments achieving all round success in power and energy sector over the last few years.
Accreditation can be used as a tool for ensuring efficiency and good governance in the energy sector. Accreditation is the independent evaluation by an authoritative body of conformity assessment bodies, against recognized national and international standards, to carry out specific activities in order to ensure their integrity, impartiality and competence. As a result of this process, governments and private sector procurers and consumers can have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection reports, and certifications provided in the provision of energy.
The use of accredited services can also moderate the need for additional legislation, as well as reducing the risk of unintended consequences. Accreditation ultimately provides a reliable monitoring tool to support the industries and economies exploring renewable energy sources.The first step in any path to the future is more wise use of the energy resources, also referred-to as conservation. This would include elimination of obvious waste, higher energy conversion efficiency, substitution for lower energy-intensity products and processes, recycling, and more energy modest lifestyles.
Presently, Bangladesh has energy supply from both renewable and non-renewable sources. Seventy five percent of the commercial energy is provided from natural gas. Imported oil accounts for the rest of the energy requirements. Gas operatives demonstrating competence at assessment centers approved by accredited certification bodies can be used to ensure efficient transmission & distribution of gas system. Besides, government can take the benefits of using accredited laboratories for carrying out testing on fuels and oils in order to ensure that they meet the specifications for their intended purpose. This ranges from testing the sulphur content to ensuring the correct additives are present in the right concentrations, to the presence of bacterial or fuel degradation contaminants. These range from chemical tests such as determination of sulphur content and water solubility tests to determine the presence of water soluble additives in fuels, or microbiological tests such as the determination of the presence of bacterial contaminants or fuel degradation levels, to physical tests such as the determination of relative density of fuel samples.
Appreciating the critical importance of Energy & Power Sector in the economic development of Bangladesh and its contribution to achieving appreciable growth of GDP, the government is consistently taking initiatives to upgrade the energy infrastructure of Bangladesh. Like the U.S ENERGY STAR programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agencywhich include requirements that test data from third-party laboratories come from labs accredited by signatories to the ILAC MRA where participation is voluntary rather than mandatory, Our Government can also rely on accredited testing and certification of renewable energy products to provide confidence in the market. Products such as PPV Solar panels, LED bulbs etc. can be tested in an accredited laboratory to measure performance, durability, safety and environmentally friendly considerations. Installation companies need to gain accredited certification to demonstrate compliance. Government will be benefitted by reduced pollution, energy costs, increased competition, as well as informed supplier selection by setting accreditation requirements for tenders.
Following the policy adopted by Mexico to facilitate the reduction of emissions in energy consumption by replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs and the project of energy-efficient refrigeration to reduce energy consumptions, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) & BSTI can take pivotal role in developing & implementing Energy-Efficiency (EE) standards and regulations that prescribe the energy performance of manufactured products e.g. electronic equipment, refrigerators, air conditioners and water heaters and reduction of emissions in energy consumption by replacing incandescent light bulbs &compact fluorescent light bulbs with LEDs. To demonstrate compliance with mandatory standards& regulations products shall be certified (STAR Labelling) and tested by accredited third parties.
There are a variety of examples of where ISO 50001 – Energy management systems has been used. One of the leading examples is in Germany where, the new German voluntary agreement with energy intensive industry entered into force in 2013. Industries that comply with the terms of the agreement are eligible for a tax rebate on energy tax. Under the new agreement companies need to introduce energy management systems or audits until the end of 2015 with certification according to ISO 50001′. Since the no of industries having implemented ISO 50001 is very negligible, Government can also encourage the use of ISO 50001 giving some advantages in energy intensive industries especially in textile & garment, power plants, steel mills, cement industries etc. to ensure more efficient energy usage and improve environmental performance through the development of an energy management system (EnMS) from BAB accredited certification body.
Now a good no of vehicles are CNG driven and compressed gas cylinders are being used in home, restaurants and small industries. According to the recommendation of cylinder manufacturer, cylinder re-testing is required in every five years from cylinder manufacturing date. Regulators should impose the suppliers/manufacturers to be certified from accredited certification bodies and re-testing to be done from accredited testing laboratories to ensure proper measurement and safety of using CNG cylinder. Similar regulation should be done for Liquefied petroleum gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPGor LP gas) cylinder as its demand is going to increase in the next few years.
Regulators dealing with power generation and fuel reprocessing can recognize the ILAC MRA for licensees and suppliers of basic components for use on power plants by using laboratory accreditation by Accreditation Bodies (ABs) that are signatories to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) which will replace the need to perform commercial-grade surveys for the procurement of calibration and testing services performed by domestic and international laboratories accredited by signatories to the ILAC MRA.
BAB, the only national accreditation authority in Bangladesh, is the Full member and Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC). BAB has good rapports and cooperation with different international peer organizations. BAB holds different membership status of Pacific Accreditation cooperation (PAC), SAARC Expert Group on Accreditation (SEGA) and Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) Accreditation Committee (AC).
BAB provides accreditation to different testing, calibration and medical laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies and training institute of Bangladesh. So Government and regulatory bodies can take the services of BAB to support policy delivery across a wide range of activities.
(Assistant Director, Bangladesh Accreditation Board [email protected])
