The government is likely to sign a power sector cooperation deal with Nepal next month to spur power trade between the two countries, said officials concerned.
The deal will be signed in Nepal next month (August), said a ministry official. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and top officials of the power division will attend the program.
“We have received a positive response from Nepalese energy ministry expressing their interest for implementation of a hydroelectricity project. They also invited us to Nepal to sign an agreement in this regard next month, between August 9 and11,” said the official of the power division.
He pointed out that the deal will help boost up hydroelectricity potentiality among Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Nepal is encouraged from the favorable environment for hydropower development and cross-border power trade cooperation.
Although Nepal is agreed to share their hydroelectricity with Bangladesh but it backtracked due to major earth quack in 2015 as damaged the country’s hydropower potentially to some extent. Bangladesh is planning to import 9000MW of electricity from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China by 2041.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already approved a proposal to invest US$1 billion for investing in hydroelectricity in Bhutan. Power import will rise to 1,200MW within 2020. Gradually the amount will rise to 5,000MW in 2030 and 9,000MW in 2041.
