Bangladesh is set to brighten its future with four new solar power plants, generating 420 megawatts (MW) of electricity over 20 years.

The cabinet committee approved this green push on public purchase yesterday, promising cleaner energy and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

The largest plant, a 240 MW behemoth, will rise in Trishal, Mymensingh. A joint venture between Orion Group’s Energon Renewables and PWR Energy Trading will bring this project to life, at an estimated cost of Tk 85.53 billion.

Cox’s Bazar will also see its share of sunshine, with two solar plants planned. A 30 MW plant by a Korean-Bangladeshi consortium and a 50 MW plant by Joules Power Ltd will bring the total in this coastal district to 80 MW. These projects will cost Tk 10.72 billion and Tk 17.71. billion respectively.

Rounding out the quartet is a 100 MW plant in Mongla, Bagerhat. Asian Entech Power and Axia Power Holdings will team up to build this green giant, with an investment of Tk 35.64 billion.

These solar giants are not the only energy news of the day. The government also approved the import of 1 lakh tonnes of wheat from the UAE and Singapore, ensuring food security at the cost of Tk 3.48 billion.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh will purchase 6,000 tonnes of lentils and 6 million liters of rice bran oil within Bangladesh.

Finally, Petrobangla received the green light to import 3.3 million MMBTUs of liquefied natural gas from the USA, bolstering the country’s energy mix.