Bangladesh Signs Deal with India to Buy Electricity

[lca mk2]

Dhaka , July 26: Bangladesh has signed a deal with India for buying power, six months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed an agreement with her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during her visit to New Delhi .

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Secretary Azizul Islam and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCI) Executive Director Arun Kumar signed the deal on behalf of their respective governments at Hotel Sonargaon in the city on Monday (July 26).

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Prime Minister’s advisor for energy Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Energy Secretary Mezbah Uddin and Deputy High Commissioner of India Sanjay Bhattacharyya were present.

Under to the deal-valid for 35 years- Bangladesh will buy 500 MW power from different power plants of India and India will import it through the PGCI’s regional transmission system.

The power will be transmitted through a 400 KV switching station and a 400 KV single circuit line. PGCI will also construct a 400KV double circuit line stretching from India ’'s Bahrampur to Bheramara in Bangladesh .

Initially, 250 MW of power will be available from India , the transmission of which is expected to start in 2012.

The terms and conditions as well as the tariff will be set by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India.

The agreement, however, kept the provision to amend the tariff from time to time, according to a statement provided by the BPDB.

Bangladesh will have to make the payments within one and half month from the date of billing.

India , however, will charge interest in case of delay beyond a grace period of two months.

http://www.energybangla.com/index.php?mod=article&cat=PowerSector&article=2508

 

[chakra]

This is a major step in the direction of india-bangladesh bilateral cooperation.
We should find other areas of cooperation also.

 

[ramu]

250 MW is about 16% of Bangladesh power deficit. 60 % of Bangladesh does not have access to power. That implies this project alone can provide power to atleast 10% of Bangladesh.

Great deal ...

 

[Kinetic]

I wish Mamta allows to build that huge nuclear power plant in Bengal. It will allow us to sell electricity to BD as well which can generate revenue.

 

[Maira La]

I wish Mamta allows to build that huge nuclear power plant in Bengal. It will allow us to sell electricity to BD as well which can generate revenue.

We're building our own, but God knows how long it will take. If WB builds one and generates surplus, we will definitely buy it.

 

[EjazR]

Power transmission deal signed with India

Bangladesh and India Monday signed the much-talked-about bulk power transmission agreement, initiating the first-ever bilateral electricity trade between the two countries.

State-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI) have signed the agreement to import 250 megawatts (mw) of electricity by Bangladesh within 2012. The duration of the agreement is 35 years.

Under the agreement the BPDB would purchase electricity from various Indian power plants and import through the regional transmission system of the PGCI.

The transmission tariff and terms and conditions would be as per norms, specified by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Transmission tariff would be effective from the date of commercial operation, and payable by the BPDB on monthly basis.

Under the agreement, the PGCI will construct, own, operate and maintain the transmission system, along with establishment of 400 kilovolt (KV) switching station at Bahrampur in India, loop in and loop out of Farakka-Jeerat 400 KV single circuit line at Bahrampur. The PGCI will also construct, own, operate and maintain Bahrampur-Bheramara 400 KV double circuit line.

BPDB Secretary Azizul Islam and PGCI Executive Director Arun Kumar signed the agreement on behalf of the respective parties.

"This is the beginning of regional energy trade," Finance Minister AMA Muhith said at the agreement signing ceremony, where he was present as the chief guest.

"It is now limited to importing of 500 mw of electricity from India. But it might lead to establishment of regional grid with other countries in the region," he said.

Bangladesh might export electricity to India as well, said the finance minister.

"This is indeed an auspicious occasion," said Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. It would strengthen regional cooperation and integration, he hoped while speaking on the occasion as the special guest.

The agreement has been signed within seven months of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries, said the BPDB chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir.

Energy Secretary Mohammad Mesbah Uddin, Power Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and PGCI Executive Director Arun Kumar also spoke on the occasion.

 

[mijanur]

Good news we should do more trading

 

[RAW1]

Great news

 

[SHHHHH]

The banning on Indian members has been increasing rapidly,i wonder why?

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

thank God.....your people are over-populating this forum

 

[somebozo]

Indian produces a lot of energy on mass scale and can offer it on cost effective price. This is good news for Bangladesh economy. The biggest draw back of united Pakistan was east-pakistan economic isolation from its only neigbouring country India. Now good to see Bangladesh progress.

 

[DesiGuy]

The banning on Indian members has been increasing rapidly,i wonder why?

this is not the right place to start this kind of discussion.

 

[Jay1]

thank God.....your people are over-populating this forum

Sir jee thoda Adjust kar lo .... On topic - its a greate news.