Power Ministry finding India’s conditions tougher than first thought

[eastwatch]

India seeks to fund, manage coal power

Monday, June 21, 2010
India seeks to fund, manage coal power

Bangladesh wants gradual increase of its stake in joint venture; team flies to Delhi today for agreement on coal plant, power import
Staff Correspondent A Bangladeshi team leaves for Delhi today to negotiate final terms in the draft agreement with India to set up a 1,320 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Khulna and a cross-border transmission line to import 250 MW power from West Bengal.

A high-powered committee headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday held a meeting to discuss the Bangladeshi terms and conditions that should be accommodated in the agreement.

India has already sent a draft agreement outlining that Indian National Thermal Power Company (NTPC) would manage and finance the two-unit coal plant in Khulna that would be jointly built with the Power Development Board (PDB).

Under this joint venture, the board of directors will be headed by Bangladesh, while the number of NTPC representatives will be higher than Bangladesh by one.

The high-powered committee yesterday decided to propose to India that the Bangladeshi share in this plant would increase gradually. "The NTPC has the experience and finances to build and operate large coal plants. So we expect the NTPC to finance and manage the project.

But we want to increase our shares in the operation gradually," says a meeting source.

Emerging out of the meeting at the finance ministry, Finance Minister AMA Muhith told the press, "We have discussed the nitty-gritty [of the draft agreement and the power transmission line], how the contracts should be framed and the terms for the coal [plant]."

"We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with India. Now they have sent a draft agreement. We are scrutinising its terms," he added.

Answering to a question whether the cross-border power transmission line would be controlled by India, Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Moshiur Rahman told the press, "We have not seen anything like that in the documents that they sent."

The finance minister then clarified, "They [India] would do their part, we would do ours."

In April, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) floated a tender to set up a 40-kilometre transmission line in Bheramara with a high voltage sub-station at a cost of $150 million.

The tender evaluation process is now in the final stage and PDB is expected to award the contract soon so that it can be completed within two years.

The power line will have the capacity to transmit 500 MW power.

India is setting up an 85-km transmission line at its own cost across the border.

Meanwhile, PDB is acquiring around 1,800 acres of land opposite to Mongla port, keeping in mind that huge coal would have to be imported through the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh signed several MoUs with India on January 3 this year which include one on power import and setting up the coal-based power plant under a government-to-government joint venture.

 

[sab]

I think, the meaning of MALMAL is silk. But, 'Jha' may give you a proper answer.

I think he is mentioning Maslin...or what we say makhmal......I am not good hindi......BTW ..is Makhmal and maslin same?

 

[sab]

Nice indian try to wedge political divide to mask indian deception and hegemonic agenda. But unfortunately for indians this is NOT about Bangladesh internal politics. This is about indian ploy to use its stooges to control Bangladesh energy sector. And Awami regime so far acting as indian stooge.

Bangladesh and its future generation should make sure india is accountable for all these interference and damage and reparation are collected.

Scrap the deal then.... If your are done with your AL-BNP cat fight make a resolution to scrap deplomatic ties with India too.

You are going to say..."India is begging for this and that....".........just dont bother about India.

 

[eastwatch]

India seeks to fund, manage coal power

Monday, June 21, 2010
India seeks to fund, manage coal power

Meanwhile, PDB is acquiring around 1,800 acres of land opposite to Mongla port, keeping in mind that huge coal would have to be imported through the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh signed several MoUs with India on January 3 this year which include one on power import and setting up the coal-based power plant under a government-to-government joint venture.

This is what I was suspecting all along that a coal-fired power plant in Khulna is intended to push the low quality and high-sulphur Indian coal through our throats. Its ash content is also very high, about 35%. So, there will be pollution all over our SW. I will prefer a power plant in our NW where there is a big quantity of low pollution coal.

By the way, it is good to see that there were two separate BD-India MoU for power supply from India and a joint venture power plant in BD. However, considering the mind-set of Indians, it is possible that if BD does not agree to Indian whims on the power plant inside BD, India will not abide by its promise to supply power from India, too.

 

[eastwatch]

I think he is mentioning Maslin...or what we say makhmal......I am not good hindi......BTW ..is Makhmal and maslin same?

Yes, makhmal is the true Hindi/Urdu word for resham. We can no no longer produce MASLIN, which was the finest type of makhmal, resham or silk produced in Dhaka before the British intrusion. Women in thel royal, noble and aristocratic families all over the world were fond of wearing maslin-made clothes. British beniyas destroyed this industry. Now, we have a very good silk industry in our NW district of Rajshahi.

Anyway, I am expecting Jha to clarify about MALMAL. Could it be equivalent to MAKHMAL?

 

[Neither Right Nor Wrong]

This is what I was suspecting all along that a coal-fired power plant in Khulna is intended to push the low quality and high-sulphur Indian coal through our throats. Its ash content is also very high, about 35%. So, there will be pollution all over our SW. I will prefer a power plant in our NW where there is a big quantity of low pollution coal.

By the way, it is good to see that there were two separate BD-India MoU for power supply from India and a joint venture power plant in BD. However, considering the mind-set of Indians, it is possible that if BD does not agree to Indian whims on the power plant inside BD, India will not abide by its promise to supply power from India, too.

Hey you don't want it, don't take it...we could not care less.

You are not doing India a favour, by using our electricity or coal or help in setting up a power plant in Bangladesh.

Frankly tired of your constant bellyaching.

 

[sab]

This is what I was suspecting all along that a coal-fired power plant in Khulna is intended to push the low quality and high-sulphur Indian coal through our throats. Its ash content is also very high, about 35%. So, there will be pollution all over our SW. I will prefer a power plant in our NW where there is a big quantity of low pollution coal.

By the way, it is good to see that there were two separate BD-India MoU for power supply from India and a joint venture power plant in BD. However, considering the mind-set of Indians, it is possible that if BD does not agree to Indian whims on the power plant inside BD, India will not abide by its promise to supply power from India, too.

Indian coals are not of high quality. But when hundreds of power plants are run by this coal, NTPC is definately not going to import special coal for Bangladesh. If you think you have made a great discovery which officials of your power ministry do not know you can definitely educate them. It is a matter of BD where they want a plant and which type of plant. Bringing India in everything is irritating.

 

[jha]

Yes, makhmal is the true Hindi/Urdu word for resham. We can no no longer produce MASLIN, which was the finest type of makhmal, resham or silk produced in Dhaka before the British intrusion. Women in thel royal, noble and aristocratic families all over the world were fond of wearing maslin-made clothes. British beniyas destroyed this industry. Now, we have a very good silk industry in our NW district of Rajshahi.

Anyway, I am expecting Jha to clarify about MALMAL. Could it be equivalent to MAKHMAL?

yes..MALMAL is the same as MAKHMAL..in fact this was finest quality of silk available ...sadly the quality has deteriorated a lot.. i know a fair bit about silk because my father dons KURTA...even i try occasionally...MAKHMAL kurtas are the most comfortable ones..

 

[PracticalGuy]

I'm surprised by seeing some of the bangladesis here wanting to go with their chinese friends for this deal instead of India... have you ever noticed how chinese investment works in a different country? they will outsource even the laborers from china to begin with and all the equipment would ultimately be maintained by them from start to finish ...the reason they would give is as all the software and markings would be in chinese hence the chinese engineers and as the managers would be "comfortable" working with the people who knows their language ..hence the chinese laborers.. look at srilanka and infact the Indian telecom to understand what am i saying...

 

[Justin Joseph]

I'm surprised by seeing some of the bangladesis here wanting to go with their chinese friends for this deal instead of India... have you ever noticed how chinese investment works in a different country? they will outsource even the laborers from china to begin with and all the equipment would ultimately be maintained by them from start to finish ...the reason they would give is as all the software and markings would be in chinese hence the chinese engineers and as the managers would be "comfortable" working with the people who knows their language ..hence the chinese laborers.. look at srilanka and infact the Indian telecom to understand what am i saying...

Those are the non Bangla people who hate Bangladesh and Bangla people.

 

[fallstuff]

Reported by: UNBconnect
Reported on: June 20, 2010 19:18 PM
Reported in: National

Dhaka, June 20 (UNB) -Power Ministry officials are now finding the conditions set by India officials for Bangladesh to import power from them, as well as for setting up two coal-based power plants here, are significantly tougher than initially thought.

Bangladesh signed a number of memorandums of understanding (MoU) with India on January 3 this year, one of them on importing about 250 MW of electricity from the neighbouring country. It was also agreed to set up the two coal-based power plants under a joint venture between the two countries.

Each of the two plants will be of 650 MW capacity, with the first one being set up in Khulna, and the second one in Chittagong.

As per the agreement, the state-owned PDB will import electricity from India’s state-owned NTPC, while the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) will construct the required transmission lines to facilitate import in cooperation with its Indian counterpart, the PGCIL.

The coal-based power plants would be set up by the PDB in collaboration with the NTPC.

Following the agreement, the Indian side sent Bangladesh some detailed draft agreements on these two issues.

While scrutinising the drafts, Bangladeshi officials found most of the conditions set by the Indian side are tougher than what had been understood during the signing of the MoUs.

To deal with the matter, the Bangladesh government has already formed a high-powered advisory committee headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

Planning Minister AK Khandaker, Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Advisor Dr. Mashiur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr. Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury are other members of the advisory committee, which has been set up at the Finance Ministry.

To tackle these hurdles from the Indian side while finalising the draft agreements, the Power Ministry official stoday (Sunday) met the members of the advisory committee at the finance ministry.

Power and Energy Minister M Enamul Haque, Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir, as well as other officials from the Power Division were present at the meeting.

After the meeting, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the Power Ministry officials apprised the committee on the progress on each front.

“We discussed the nitty-gritty of the draft agreements offered by the Indian side,” he told reporters after the meeting.

The finance minister, however, categorically denied the conditions set in the draft agreement offered by the Indian side are tougher than first thought.

But official sources said the advisory committee discussed the conditions and gave some directives to the Power Ministry officials to deal with the matter.

They said the Indians do not want to involve Bangladeshi officials in the operation and management of the transmission system for importing power, and neither in running the proposed power plants.

The sources also said, as per the MoU, a transmission line will be built from Baharampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh. The distance from Baharampur to Bangladesh border is 85 kilometres.

Initially, India will build the 85 km line at their own cost. But Bangladesh will gradually reimburse the cost. Until cost recovery, Bangladesh need not pay any wheeling charges for using the line. But after that, Bangladesh will have to pay wheeling charges to be fixed by the India side.

Secondly, the whole transmission system will be operated and controlled by the Indians.

Officials said that initially, India had agreed that the transmission line would be operated and managed jointly. But they are now backtracking on this.

Similarly, there are some disagreements over the equipment and systems to be used in the transmission line.

Bangladesh officials allege the Indian negotiators had proposed their own choices in this regard, which is not acceptable to Bangladesh as it would mean the whole project cost will ultimately be borne by Bangladesh.

Regarding operation and management of the coal-based power plants, the Indian side tagged a condition that these would remain in Indian hands, although the plants would be built as a joint venture. Moreover, the plant will be built on Bangladeshi territory.

The initial understanding was that although operation and management will remain in their hands in the beginning, gradually some Bangladeshi officials will be engaged in this. But now, the Indians are not being as flexible on this.

“This is definitely a tougher condition for Bangladesh, because they will be on Bangladeshi soil,” said a Power Ministry official.

He also said, “We shall propose to engage our manpower in operation and management 5 years from the commissioning date of the plants.” The total operation period of the plants will be 30 years.

“We want to develop and engage our people in the power plants along with Indians,” the official told UNB preferring not to be quoted.

UNBconnect... - Power Ministry finding India?s conditions tougher than first thought; Advisory committee formed

Actually its a non starter. It is expected from the Indians. Indians hoping that BD needs power real bad, hence this ridiculous ill attempt. Indian folks are known to shoot themselves on their foot. Sri Lanka turned to China when India was trying to play "to smart for their own good" game.

India is still far away from playing game theory. It does require you to be able to stack the cards in your favor. There is only one country in the world who has that ability. India is not that country.

I see a Chinese proposal on the horizon. Then the Indian will come offering a much better deal.

 

[eastwatch]

Those are the non Bangla people who hate Bangladesh and Bangla people.

Please do not make me laugh with your wild imaginations about who is pure and who is non-pure Bangladeshi. But, why do you think it is proper to buy low grade coal from India when our own coal is almost sulphur-free and the ash content is also very low.

Get some information about this. I am not lying. The main purpose of India is to force feed its 3rd rate coal by any means. India is bent on destroying our ecology.

 

[Justin Joseph]

Please do not make me laugh with your wild imaginations about who is pure and who is non-pure Bangladeshi. But, why do you think it is proper to buy low grade coal from India when our own coal is almost sulphur-free and the ash content is also very low.

Get some information about this. I am not lying. The main purpose of India is to force feed its 3rd rate coal by any means. India is bent on destroying our ecology.

I see u as a responsible person don't spoil ur image just to prove yourself to like of idune.

Can you explain how India is forcing Bangladesh as we export power to you people.

In this case only power is transferred not the so called low quality coal.

And for your kind info china also imports coal from India.

There is no doubt about quality of majority of Indian coal has high sulfur content. That's why India owns and buying coal mines all over the world.

But point is how it is effecting Bangladesh. We are just exporting power or building power plants.

 

[eastwatch]

Hey you don't want it, don't take it...we could not care less.

You are not doing India a favour, by using our electricity or coal or help in setting up a power plant in Bangladesh.

Frankly tired of your constant bellyaching.

Just ask your govt not to sell nything to BD. You are just as ungrateful an Indian can be. We are doing a favour to India by allowing to build a power station inside BD. Not only that, it will also create an opportunity to sell your poor quality coal.

Who needs Indian shoddy products! You are a nation of self-centered BENIYA, you people even do not spit unless you get some benefit out of it. And here you are talking about brotherly affection. What a joke?

 

[sab]

Just ask your govt not to sell nything to BD. You are just as ungrateful an Indian can be. We are doing a favour to India by allowing to build a power station inside BD. Not only that, it will also create an opportunity to sell your poor quality coal.

Who needs Indian shoddy products! You are a nation of self-centered BENIYA, you people even do not spit unless you get some benefit out of it. And here you are talking about brotherly affection. What a joke?

Instead of crying foul here, go to the streets and ask your government to break tie with India. There are many countries to do business - for both of us...

India bashing is in your blood and you will keep on doing so...Just our f**king government dont understand that....go lick *** of China and Pakistan...