Staff Reporter :
The 17th meeting of the joint steering committee of Bangladesh and India on Monday discussed on the prospect of exporting electricity from Bangladesh to India in future.
“We’ve discussed such a proposal at a meeting of the joint steering committee on Bangladesh-India Power Sector Cooperation. Both sides agreed to study the technical aspects of the proposal,” said Bangladesh Power Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus while briefing reporters about the outcome of the meeting.
Dr Kaikaus led the Bangladesh team at the meeting held at a city hotel.
The two countries also discussed on the policies regarding cooperation between the two countries on power and energy.
Bangladesh currently produces 18,961 megawatt of electricity and there is a demand for 8,500 to 12,500 megawatts of electricity.
Therefore there is a scope to export power, according to sources at the power ministry.
On the other hand, Bangladesh is importing 1,160 MW of electricity from India of which 1,000 MW is coming from West Bengal through Bheramara substation, while 160 MW from Tripura through Cumilla.
The proposed 340 MW is an addition to this current cross-border electricity trade between Dhaka and New Delhi.
The 17th meeting of the joint steering committee concluded here with discussing various issues relating to power sector cooperation between the two neighbouring nations.
India’s Power Secretary of India Subhash Chandra Garg, who led his country at the meeting, said both sides are happy with the progress in the power sector cooperation and agreed to continue the cooperation.
Dr Kaikaus said the proposed import of 340 MW is in addition to the existing supply and Bangladesh finds the proposed 340 MW import technically and financially unviable as the transmission system from Tripura is “weak”.
He said Bangladesh now has available electricity in Cumilla region which is being generated from gas-fired plants at a lower cost.
“So, we’ll prefer the proposed 340 MW to be imported for regions like Rangpur, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon where there is power shortage and liquid fuel is used to generate electricity at higher cost,” he said.
The 17th meeting of the joint steering committee of Bangladesh and India on Monday discussed on the prospect of exporting electricity from Bangladesh to India in future.
“We’ve discussed such a proposal at a meeting of the joint steering committee on Bangladesh-India Power Sector Cooperation. Both sides agreed to study the technical aspects of the proposal,” said Bangladesh Power Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus while briefing reporters about the outcome of the meeting.
Dr Kaikaus led the Bangladesh team at the meeting held at a city hotel.
The two countries also discussed on the policies regarding cooperation between the two countries on power and energy.
Bangladesh currently produces 18,961 megawatt of electricity and there is a demand for 8,500 to 12,500 megawatts of electricity.
Therefore there is a scope to export power, according to sources at the power ministry.
On the other hand, Bangladesh is importing 1,160 MW of electricity from India of which 1,000 MW is coming from West Bengal through Bheramara substation, while 160 MW from Tripura through Cumilla.
The proposed 340 MW is an addition to this current cross-border electricity trade between Dhaka and New Delhi.
The 17th meeting of the joint steering committee concluded here with discussing various issues relating to power sector cooperation between the two neighbouring nations.
India’s Power Secretary of India Subhash Chandra Garg, who led his country at the meeting, said both sides are happy with the progress in the power sector cooperation and agreed to continue the cooperation.
Dr Kaikaus said the proposed import of 340 MW is in addition to the existing supply and Bangladesh finds the proposed 340 MW import technically and financially unviable as the transmission system from Tripura is “weak”.
He said Bangladesh now has available electricity in Cumilla region which is being generated from gas-fired plants at a lower cost.
“So, we’ll prefer the proposed 340 MW to be imported for regions like Rangpur, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon where there is power shortage and liquid fuel is used to generate electricity at higher cost,” he said.
