KATHMANDU, Aug 10, 2018 (BSS) – State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said Bangladesh has a plan to import 9,000 megawatts electricity from regional country to mitigate the increasing demand of electricity by 2040.
The state minister said this while addressing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing deal over the cooperation in power sector between Bangladesh and Nepal here today.
“There is an enormous possibility of generating hydro-electricity in Nepal,” he said, adding that to explore this possibility, Bangladesh wants to import hydro-power from Nepal under the regional cooperation.
Bangladesh is now importing 660 megawatts electricity from India, said the state minister, adding that import process of 500 megawatts electricity from the neighbouring country has also nearly been finalized.
This deal will prepare a platform for the power sector which would increase cooperation in power exchange, power trading, greed line connection, hydro-power development and renewable energy extension, the minister noted.
Even this sort of cooperation will also be benefited for both countries, he said, adding the deal will encourage the people and the private sector of the two countries on the power sector.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid signed the MoU on behalf of Bangladesh while his Nepalese counterpart Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Affairs Minister Barshaman Pun Ananta signed it on behalf of Nepal.
“Nepal has taken Bangladesh as a model for development of the electricity,” said the Nepalese minister in his speech.
Nasrul Hamid also invited the Nepalese delegation team including the Nepalese Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Affairs Minister to visit Bangladesh for joining the ‘Power and Energy Week’-2018 which will be observed from September 6-8.
Meanwhile, Nasrul made a courtesy call on Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli at his office in Kathmandu today.
Bangladesh Ambassador in Nepal Mashfi Binte Shams, Joint Secretary of the Power Division Fayezul Amin, among others, were present.
