Energy Bangla

The 13th Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting in power sector cooperation between Bangladesh and India is scheduled to be held on September 27-28 to explore new areas and opportunities in developing the power sectors in both the countries.
During the next round of talks between the two countries, a slew of MOUs worth $ 1 billion is likely to be inked, according to power sector sources.
“Bangladesh-India power projects have been satisfactory as per present indications, however, we need to work more to implement all other projects as per the schedule to strengthen our bi-lateral ties,” said Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Secretary of Power Division on Thursday.
Indian Power Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla will arrive in Dhaka on 26th September. However, the working committee will sit on 27th and the steering committee to sit on 28th September to sign the joint declaration paper.
“Ajay to visit Bangladesh-India Friendship project popularly known as 1,320 MW coal fired Rampal power plant project at Bagerhat and karamjol areas on September 27th,” a senior official said.
In the recent years more Indian companies have expressed their intent to work and invest in power production, laying gas pipeline and mining projects in Bangladesh, since prospects for regional economic development in the Eastern part of India have brightened considerably.
Reliance and Shapoorji Palonji, two major Indian groups have submitted proposals to set up natural gas-based power stations in Bangladesh. Adani group has already expressed their interest to invest in a coal power project.
“Super thermal Rampal power project, a 250 MW power plant from a Private sector company , another 100MW power supply from Tripura State, tri nation hydro power import issue among Bangladesh-Bhutan and India and 500 MW electricity import issue will dominate the talks,” Kaikaus said.
During the meeting Bangladesh will discuss the ‘Guidelines on Cross-Border Trade of Electricity’ law as Indian power regulatory body has adopted this new law on December 5 in 2016 to regulate its electricity trade with its neighbours.
” India has adopted the new trade guideline that allows only bilateral deal for importing power. But Bangladesh has been negotiating with Nepal and Bhutan for setting up mega hydroelectric power projects with consent of India for importing electricity through the Indian corridor. So we want to discuss the issue in the meeting if they allow,” an official said.
“Dhaka has also initiated a move to set up a power plant in Nepal and import electricity from the plant. We don’t know the future of the project as Bangladesh needs the Indian corridor to import it,” he added.
Despite all these power projects Bangladesh also kicked off a dialogue with India in developing the Mining sector, MAPL, a West Bengal-based company, has secured permission to launch a feasibility study for a proposed scheme to produce methane gas from Jamalganj coal field in Bangladesh.
Diesel import from Numaligar in India (through a proposed 130-kilometre long Indo-Bangla friendship fuel pipeline), import of liquefied Natural Gas areas are the other opportunity to discuss in another meeting in future.