India-Bangladesh Relations: Cooperation in Power Sector:
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18:23 IST 12 Jan 2010

The First Joint Steering Committee for cooperation in Power Sector between India and Bangladesh was held today in New Delhi under the co-Chairmanship of Secretaries of Power from the two countries. The meeting headed by Shri. H S Brahma on Indian side and Mohd. Abul Kalam Azad on the Bangladesh side discussed grid inter-connection between India and Bangladesh as well as co-operation between NTPC and BPDB.

The Joint Technical Team of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and Bangladesh Power Developed Board (BPDB) & Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) have worked out a tentative cost estimate for grid inter-connection which is approximately Rs.869.21 crore out of which, Rs.708.88 crore is for the Bangladesh portion and Rs.160.33 crore for the Indian portion. The PGCIL will finance for the work to be done on the Indian side.

Bangladesh has requested PGCIL to act as a consultant on a nomination basis to assist in project execution since the work related to HVDC is being done for the first time in Bangladesh. The cost of consultancy will be borne by Government of Bangladesh.

It was decided that PGCIL should associate the engineers of PGCB in execution of the project to gain experience. Following areas were identified for cooperation between BPDB and NTPC:

a) Preparation of Feasibility Report for two Coal fired Power Projects (at Khulna and Chittagong, approximate 1320 MW each). NTPC will be offered to develop one of these projects in Joint Venture with BPDB.

b) NTPC will be offered to carry out technical assessment for BPDB’s old thermal power stations for efficiency improvement and renovation & modernization.

c) NTPC to provide training to power professionals from BPDB for their development. To start with BPDP could consider using the existing training modules of NTPC and depute some of their professional for development. Simultaneously , a long term plan shall be prepared by NTPC for BPDB to utilize NTPC training facilities through tailor-made programmes to be organized by NTPC in India/Bangladesh.

d) To immediately start cooperation between the two companies, NTPC suggested to take up the O&M of Power Stations in Bangladesh on nomination, on cost plus basis.

It was agreed that a Joint Technical Team shall be constituted with equal representation from NTPC and BPDP within a week to firm up the detailed modalities and framework for cooperation in the above areas.

Interacting with media on the sidelines of the meeting, Shri H S Brahama, Secretary(Power), Government of India stated that about 250 MW power supply from Indian National Grid can take place through the proposed inter-connector between the two countries. He said that Government of Bangladesh / BPDB could explore possibilities of sourcing the power from IPPs / Merchant plants subject to the prevailing policies of both the Governments.

Second Joint Steering Committee would be held tentatively in Bangladesh in February, 2010.