Article: Energy poverty and access to modern energy of urban poor: a case of Dhaka, Bangladesh Journal: International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy (IJETP) 2016 Vol.12 No.3 pp.270 - 294 Abstract: The energy access status of urban poor in Dhaka is low inspite of being in an urban setting where the physical availability of modern energy like electricity and natural gas is prevalent. A demand-based approach of estimating energy poverty showed that more than one third of population in Dhaka slums are poor and a monthly minimum 2.38 kgOE of useful energy is needed per person to sustain their basic needs. However, the distribution of income and energy poor reveals that not all energy poor are income poor and vice versa, and there are more income poor than energy poor in the community. A closer look at the energy consumption pattern shows that the energy consumption of both energy and income poor are heavily reliant on traditional energy sources with minimal usage of modern energy. Adequate access to modern energy plays an important role in addressing energy poverty as well as income poverty. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Energy poverty and access to modern energy of urban poor: a case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Authors: Molla Shahadat Hossain Lipu; Pujan Shrestha; Sivanappan Kumar

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Asia Pacific, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh ' Energy Field of Study, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand ' Energy Field of Study, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand

Abstract: The energy access status of urban poor in Dhaka is low inspite of being in an urban setting where the physical availability of modern energy like electricity and natural gas is prevalent. A demand-based approach of estimating energy poverty showed that more than one third of population in Dhaka slums are poor and a monthly minimum 2.38 kgOE of useful energy is needed per person to sustain their basic needs. However, the distribution of income and energy poor reveals that not all energy poor are income poor and vice versa, and there are more income poor than energy poor in the community. A closer look at the energy consumption pattern shows that the energy consumption of both energy and income poor are heavily reliant on traditional energy sources with minimal usage of modern energy. Adequate access to modern energy plays an important role in addressing energy poverty as well as income poverty.

Keywords: energy poverty; energy access; urban poor; energy poor; income poor; energy policy; Dhaka; slums; household survey; useful energy; end use energy; energy costs; Bangladesh; energy consumption patterns; traditional energy; modern energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2016.077383

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2016 Vol.12 No.3, pp.270 - 294

Received: 13 Mar 2015
Accepted: 10 Aug 2015
Published online: 29 Jun 2016 *

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Title: Energy poverty and access to modern energy of urban poor: a case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

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