Nov 27, Kathmandu - Bangladesh is set to import an additional 20 megawatts of electricity from Nepal. Bangladesh, which is currently buying 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal, has agreed to buy additional electricity.

The agreement was reached at the Nepal-Bangladesh Energy Secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday. The 7th meeting was co-chaired by Energy Secretary Chiranjeevi Chataut from Nepal and Bangladesh Government's Power, Energy and Minerals Secretary Farzana Mamtaz.

The recommendations made by the joint working group meeting held on November 10, co-chaired by Sandeep Kumar Dev, Joint Secretary, Energy, Government of Nepal, and KM Ali Reza, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, Energy and Minerals, Bangladesh, have been agreed upon through secretary-level discussions.

'It has been agreed that Bangladesh will import an additional 20 megawatts of electricity and Nepal will take the necessary approvals to proceed with the process,' said Dev, who is also the spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy. 'Everything from the price per unit will be as per the old agreement, the necessary approvals will have to be obtained for the additional 20 megawatts.'

An agreement was signed between Nepal, India and Bangladesh on 17 Ashwin 2081 to sell electricity for 5 months of every rainy season, i.e. from June 15 to November 15 of every year. The agreement stipulates that the NEA will receive 6.40 US cents per unit for selling electricity to Bangladesh. The Central Electricity Authority under the Ministry of Power of India has approved the export of 40 MW of electricity generated from the Trishuli and Chilime Hydropower Projects, 18.60 and 21.40 respectively, to Bangladesh.

It has also been agreed to study the export of electricity from Nepal via the Indian transmission line to Barapukarya, Panchagarh/Thakurgaon, Bhedamara and Comilla in Bangladesh.

The JSC meeting has decided that both countries will jointly try to get India's consent to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the energy sector between Nepal, India and Bangladesh.

It has also been decided that Bangladesh will form an expert committee for project evaluation to advance the investment process and finalize the joint venture agreement expeditiously.

It has been agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency after completing their respective internal procedures and under the agreement, Bangladesh will provide technical assistance to Nepal in areas such as energy testing, electric charging, and rooftop solar.

It has been decided to launch a capacity building program between Nepal and Bangladesh and to conduct the first phase of the capacity building program for the Bangladeshi side in Kathmandu and the capacity building program for the Nepali side in Bangladesh.