Abstract
The issue of energy security has been one of the pertinent issues to the study of international relations. The South Asian states are facing a tremendous energy security crisis due to a lack of conventional energy sources. The high demands for energy and shortage of supply have posed an immense challenge to the states of South Asia. In this chapter, a comparative study will be done between Pakistan and Bangladesh to understand the energy security policy of the two states to address the sustainable development goals. Pakistan and Bangladesh have a huge crisis of energy due to their vast population. A power cut has been very common for both countries. This chapter will attempt to highlight the governmental initiatives to introduce green energy and will also shed light on the administrative lack to fulfill the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The lack of policy implementation by both governments will be investigated in this chapter. The content analysis method will be applied in this chapter.
Top1. Introduction
Energy security has become one of the key concerns both for Pakistan and Bangladesh. The shortage of conventional energy sources is very uncertain and limited. The high demand for energy, on the one hand, interrupted the supply chain and created a scarcity of energy security. The issue of apart from the financial aspect, the environment and pollution are two major aspects that impact energy security issues. Based on four parameters, a comparative study will be done on the energy security issue of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Energy security is a multifaceted notion that incorporates a country or region’s institutional, legal, and regulatory components as well as its economic, political, and geopolitical dimensions. The first aspect is economics which deals with the economic responsibility of energy security. The economy of the importing country and global economic status impact the energy security of a country. The economic aspect addresses the effects of import dependency on unstable energy markets, the diversification of the primary energy mix, and the utilization of local resources, as well as the circular flow of energy. The political economy of energy security, which looks at how nations that export natural gas and crude oil and those that import it interact, is the second dimension. The geopolitics of international relations is the third component. This factor examines the effects and coalition, collaboration, or unilateral action for energy security. The fourth aspect of energy security consists of the legal, and regulatory frameworks in the local, regional, and international context (Taghizadesh-Hesary, et, al. 2019). All of the aspects are interrelated.
The above-mentioned four aspects are related to the SDGs of the United Nations Organizations (UNO). One of the fundamental needs for sustaining social progress is energy. Currently, electricity serves as the foundation for all industrialized nations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (United Nations, 2016) are intended to end poverty, safeguard the environment, and ensure the prosperity of all people. Currently, 1.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to modern power, and 2.9 billion must cook with inefficient and polluting fuels like kerosene or firewood. The majority of these people are clustered in a dozen African and Asian nations. Energy security in least-developed countries (LDCs) is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
The crucial aspect of energy security is projected in a new manner in the era of globalization. Due to the profound effects of globalization, South Asian states have been deeply concerned about their energy security in the twenty-first century (Nandy, 2019). Many steps are being implemented in the region’s energy industry to guarantee a stable future. This is crucial to take action to guarantee the region has the energy sources it needs and that they are distributed properly to maintain stable socioeconomic development. The perception of energy security in developed and developing countries differs in various ways. The perception of risk in energy security, the role of the government, the nature of the threat, the supply chain, the fair price of energy, and energy distribution are very important concerns in energy security issues (Bielecki, 2002).
The sources of energy are diversified. The availability of energy resources, which are further quantifiable under the idea of ‘diversification’ has been inferred by modern discussion on energy security in the literature, generally or in a larger sense. The interpretation of diversity has three components, such as variety, balance, and disparity (Stirling, 2010). Variety measures the economically viable sources of primary energy, whereas balance assesses how much reliance or dominance each source has in the total energy mix. The dependency on energy sources by a recipient country often creates uncertainty. The Middle East region, the hub of the energy supply is always a turmoil region due to war, conflict, and terrorist attacks. So, the dependency on a particular region may interrupt the supply chain. The valuation of the currency is also an important factor in the determination of energy prices. On the subject of energy security, four key factors are crucial: first is the availability of geological resources: the second is access to geopolitical conditions; the third is the affordability of economic conditions; and fourth is the acceptability of environmental and societal conditions (Ang et al. 2015; Cherp & Jewell, 2024; Radovanovi et al., 2017). The next section will deal with the methodological part of this chapter which will lead to the technical aspect of the chapter.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Windmill: It is another effective source of green energy. Bangladesh has a long coastal area of 724 km. where windmills can work effectively. Strong wind blows in the South and Southwestern parts of Bangladesh which is very effective in generating electricity.
Energy Security: Energy security is the security of fossil fuels, like coal, diesel, petrol, kerosene, nuclear energy, hydel energy, etc. There are two types of energy, such as conventional energy, and renewable energy (wind power, solar energy, biomass, etc.) Cost-effective energy access plays a crucial role in modern industry and civilization. The majority of energy required to fuel companies, transportation networks, and residential heating is derived from fossil fuels. On a global scale, we consume an amount of energy equivalent to 200 million barrels of oil daily. However, it is important to note that a significant portion of this energy is also sourced from nuclear power, natural gas, and coal.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as the United Nations' blueprint for achieving a more sustainable future for all. These goals were established to address pressing global concerns such as water security, climate change, sustainability, and environmental degradation. In 2015, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the UN Global Compact, and the Global Reporting Initiative introduced the SDG compass and published a report titled “Business Reporting on the SDGs: An Analysis of the Goals and Targets.” Since then, the CDP has played an active role in advancing the SDG agenda.
Pakistan: Pakistan is a South Asian state which gained independence in 1947. It is an economically challenged country with an acute shortage of fuel.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh is the younger republic of South Asia which achieved independence from Pakistan in 1971. It is a highly popular country with a huge demand for energy. However, Bangladesh is facing an energy crisis and searching for a way out for energy security.
Pollution: Apart from causing detrimental living conditions and devastating ecosystems, various forms of pollution such as air pollution, lead exposure, toxic substances, and improper disposal of electronic waste can lead to fatal illnesses. The release of pollutants into the atmosphere contributes to air pollution, which in turn triggers climate change and respiratory problems. Water pollution, caused by the discharge of waste and chemicals into water bodies, poses risks to both aquatic life and human health. Additionally, the heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation has resulted in severe pollution issues in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Geothermal Energy: is a vital source of alternative energy and the Bangladesh government has planned to install 200 MGW of electricity through this.