Aniul Islam Noor : A three-nation hydrocarbon power deal between Bangladesh, India and Bhutan will be signed soon to set up 1,225MW hydropower generation on equal partnership rights, sources said. Power Cell Director General (DG) Mohammad Hossain told The New Nation, “The investment proposal for the hydropower generation project is in the final stage. Initially, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the three countries. Then, the three will form a joint-stock company and implement the project.” “There are some complexities in the laws of India. It (India) has been asked to change its guidelines regarding this. Bangladesh is expecting that the laws will be changed. It will open new ways of power generation investment,” the Power Cell DG said. According to Power Division sources, Bhutan has the opportunity to produce 25,000MW of hydroelectric power generation. It is possible to bring this electricity to Bangladesh as there is a seasonal difference between Bangladesh and Bhutan. The highest demand for electricity in Bangladesh is remained in summer. Since Bangladesh is still a power deficit country, it could bring in electricity round the year (both summer and winter seasons) from Bhutan. In view of this possibility, Bangladesh is interested to invest in Bhutan’s hydroelectric project. Power Division hopes that the deal will be signed in early in the New Year, said a senior official in the division. Sources said that currently Bhutan has been producing 1,500MW electricity from hydroelectric power plants. Bhutan has made most of its power plants with the Indian grants and loans. That is why India imports electricity from Bhutan in lower price. Meanwhile, Bhutan is working with an aim of generating 10,000MW of hydropower by 2020. India has been implementing 10 hydroelectric power plant projects in Bhutan with 6,300MW capacity. The new power plant will start generation in 2019. Outside of this, that country has capacity of 15,000MW more hydropower generation, sources said.
