Dhaka to seek Myanmar gas, electricity
Dhaka is sending a five-member delegation to Myanmar today to build trust between the two countries through economic cooperation, with special emphasis on the energy sector.
During the five-day visit, the delegation, led by Prime Minister's Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, would express the intention and make formal proposal to import gas through pipelines and 500 megawatts of hydropower from the Rakhine province of Myanmar.
"We believe if we can establish connectivity, it will establish a good relationship between the two countries," said Tawfiq.
The bilateral relationship had remained under stress over the Rohingya refugee issue, which would not come up for discussion.
"We had an opportunity to import gas from Myanmar back in 2005-2006. But it did not happen due to indecision of the then government. Myanmar had ultimately given the gas to China," he said, adding, "They have opened the window now … we will express our goodwill. If they express commitment, the technical teams will then start working to make it happen."
He noted that the visit was the result of a series of discussions with Myanmar since 2010.
The government after its successful import of electricity from India, was eying Myanmar as the country had taken up a 15-year massive plan to generate electricity.
Tawfiq said Myanmar had plans to set up 41 power plants from 2016-17 fiscal year and increase its production from 4,581MW to over 29,000MW by 2031.
There would be 20 new hydropower plants with a combined production capacity of 6,270MW, he said.
Shwe Taung Development Co Ltd has shown interest in setting up a 500MW hydroelectric power plant in the Rakhine state and export electricity to Bangladesh.
Alongside Tawfiq, an additional secretary from the energy ministry, a director general of the foreign ministry and two directors from Petrobangla and the Power Division would visit Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon to discuss the matters with Myanmar officials.
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