Dhaka finds Tripura ‘unsuitable’ for power import
Joint steering committee on Bangladesh-India Power Sector Cooperation holds meeting
Bangladesh wants to import 340MW more electricity from other parts of India instead of previously proposed Tripura, as its transmission system is said to be weak.
“We’ve discussed such a proposal at a meeting of the joint steering committee on Bangladesh-India Power Sector Cooperation. Both sides agreed to study the technical aspects of the proposal,” Bangladesh Power Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said yesterday while briefing reporters about the outcome of the meeting.
Dr Kaikaus led the Bangladesh team at the meeting held at a Dhaka hotel.
Currently, Bangladesh is importing 1,160MW of electricity from India, of which 1,000MW is coming from West Bengal through Bhreramara substation while 160MW from Tripura through Cumilla.
The proposed 340MW is an addition to this current cross-border electricity trade between Dhaka and New Delhi.
The 17th meeting of the joint steering committee concluded with discussing various issues related to power sector cooperation between the two neighbouring nations.
India’s Power Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, who led his country’s team at the meeting, said both sides are happy with the progress and agreed to continue the cooperation.
Dr Kaikaus said the proposed import of 340MW is in addition to the existing supply and Bangladesh finds the proposed import technically and financially unviable as the transmission system from Tripura is “weak”.
He said Bangladesh now has available electricity in Cumilla region which is being generated from gas-fired plants at a lower cost.
“So, we’ll prefer the proposed 340MW to be imported for regions like Rangpur, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon where there is power shortage and liquid fuel is used to generate electricity at higher cost,” he said.
Dr Kaikaus said Bangladesh also wants to export electricity during its off-peak season of winter to India if it finds any suitable buyer, as there is no bar on export or import of electricity to or from India.
He also said Bangladesh-India joint venture Rampal power project has so far made 40 percent progress and its construction will be completed within a few months of targeted time frame.