Residents call on government over controversial energy switch that poses ‘serious risk’ to endangered animals: ‘I am particularly concerned’

The government of Bangladesh switched one of its small islands from clean energy to dirty energy, which had a negative impact on wildlife.

Mongabay reported that residents of Nijhum Dwip Island in the Bay of Bengal rely on solar power, and the government was said to have installed a “miniature solar grid to provide uninterrupted power several years ago.” Instead, the government reversed the shift to cheaper energy by building a 15-megawatt heavy-fuel power plant in the Hatiya sub-county of Nijhum Dwip. Construction was carried out as part of a 100% reliable and sustainable electrification project to ensure reliable and renewable energy for all.

What’s going on?

Since October 23, 2,500 households, mainly fishing, have been connected to the national grid, powered by a 15-megawatt power plant.

Since April 2024, a 51-kilometer network of power lines has been built in Nijhum Dwip, comprising 1,500 metal electricity poles ranging from 29.5 to 39 feet long. The taller poles carry 11 kilovolts of electricity.

Why is the power line network worrying?

Nijhum Dwip Island is home to a national park and the second largest mangrove forest in Bangladesh. It is also the “East Asia-Australia Flyover Area and Marine Protected Area.”

The project was not subject to an environmental impact assessment and did not comply with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

Fisher Kaiyum previously used an electric water pump and ceiling fans, but after the switch, problems began.

“A few days ago, a bird was electrocuted on the nearest electricity pole. Due to this incident, the electrical connection was interrupted for about five hours,” Kaiyum said.

Conservation biologist and PhD student. University of Cambridge researcher Sayam U. Chowdhury admits that power lines are unfriendly to birds. He said: “The new installation of power lines poses a serious threat to migratory birds. I am particularly concerned about globally threatened raptors that are highly susceptible to power line-related mortality.”

He also noted that Nijhum Dwip is a wintering ground for the endangered Greater Spotted Eagle, the endangered Steppe Eagle and the local Indian eagle.

According to Bangladesh’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the island is also home to 193 species, including 76 migratory species. Half a dozen of the birds are “endangered migratory birds.”

The bigger problem is that the shift from solar to dirty energy also poses a threat to the people of Nijhum Dwip and to increasing the planet’s dependence on fossil fuels, rather than reducing it. According to a Harvard study, “8 million people died in 2018.” due to polluting gases. These toxic gases come from plants like the one built in the district.

Furthermore, these gases remain in the atmosphere and retain heat like an invisible layer of insulation.

What actions are being taken to protect wildlife?

Preventive measures can be taken to protect wildlife. The guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature require that electric poles be made of wood or concrete. Additionally, the wires should be spaced 5 feet apart and the ground wire should be covered for the first 3.3 feet.

Although birds can sit on power lines without being electrocuted, unless they touch something that allows electricity to flow to the ground, this problem occurs especially if the power lines do not have proper cleaning or safety measures. Research has recently been commissioned to reduce the number of birds dying on power lines.

Efforts to protect wildlife from human development may be successful. An example of success is the Canadian Banff Wildlife Crossings project in the Rocky Mountains. The viaduct provides safe crossing for deer, moose, coyotes, wolves, moose, cougars, bears and lynxes. It reduced the number of collisions with animals by 80% and collisions with deer and elk by 96%.

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