Modi seeks Indian Power Companies’ Entry into Bangladesh

Dhaka, June 7 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to facilitate Indian firms’ entry in the power generation and distribution sector to help Dhaka achieve an installed capacity of 24,000 MW by 2021.

The joint declaration between the two countries during Modi’s visit to Bangladesh said India agreed in principle to consider Dhaka’s proposal to get additional power in a phased manner through construction of an additional grid on the western side of Bangladesh.

The two prime ministers, it said, decided to initiate an annual India-Bangladesh energy dialogue to be led jointly by secretary (petroleum) of India and secretary, power division, of Bangladesh, to undertake comprehensive energy sector cooperation including areas of coal, natural gas, petroleum products, renewable energy, oil and gas pipelines.

The declaration said Modi appreciated Hasina’s untiring efforts in improving the power situation in Bangladesh and her government’s consistent efforts to achieve installed capacity of 24,000 MW power by 2021.

Modi also conveyed that “India can be a major partner in achieving this goal and many Indian corporates have the capacity to cooperate with Bangladesh in this endeavour”.

He requested Prime Minister Hasina for facilitating the entry of Indian companies in the power generation, transmission and distribution sector of Bangladesh, the declaration said.

Both the prime ministers expressed satisfaction at the steps being taken to quickly enhance the supply by 30-50 MW over the existing transmission line so that the net power supply to Bangladesh increases to 500 MW.

Welcoming the steps being taken to augment supply of power through the Bheramara-Baharampur grid inter-connection from 500 MW to 1,000 MW, the two sides directed the concerned officials to complete the work in a time-bound manner, the declaration said.

It said there was consensus to take power from the north-eastern region of India (Rangia/Rowta in Assam) to Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) through a grid line with suitable power tapping points at Barapukuria in Bangladesh.

Modi agreed, in principle, to consider Bangladesh’ request for providing adequate power from this line, the declaration said.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the pace of work of the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company’s 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh.

Noting Bangladesh’s interest in importing power in the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) framework, India agreed to favourably consider such an import.