Bangladesh-Nepal Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Tuesday emphasized on further cooperation in power sector between the two countries.
The third meeting of the committee was held yesterday through video conferencing underscoring the need for greater cooperation between the two countries in the power sector, according to a statement.
It said Bangladesh Power Secretary Md Habibur Rahman and Nepalese Power, Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Devendra Karki led the JSC on behalf of their respective sides.
The JSC meeting had a fruitful discussion on the huge potential for setting up hydropower plants in Nepal and the need for electricity in both countries, the statement added.
According to variation of seasons the demand for electricity in the two countries and the issue of mutual electricity trade were considered at the meeting.
The JSC discussed possibility of investing in hydropower plants in Nepal and the investment of Bangladesh's private sector for power generation in Nepal.
The Nepalese government identified five potential hydropower projects there and a decision will be taken after the ongoing survey of those projects and then Bangladeshi investors will have the opportunity for investment, the meeting was told.
Two separate joint technical teams (Generation) and joint technical team (Transmission) comprising representatives of both the countries were working to identify potential projects for financing and joint implementation of power plants in Nepal.
The teams have been verifying feasibility of power transmission through inter-country power connections and import-export of electricity between the two countries.
However, the transmission line will be constructed exclusively in Indian territory, the issue will be decided through a Bangladesh-India-Nepal tripartite agreement.
During the meeting Nepal proposed to export 200 MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through India using the existing transmission line.
The meeting discussed about progress of import of 500 MW power from Nepal’s 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Plant being implemented by GMR Group of India.
Bangladesh informed the meeting that the agreement will be signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board, GMR and NVVN.
The meeting reviewed the issues of cooperation between the two countries in exchange of experience, knowledge and skills in the expansion of renewable energy in Bangladesh and Nepal.
It highlighted the experience of solar home system activities and net metering activities in Bangladesh. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between SREDA of Bangladesh and Alternative Energy Promotion Center of Nepal for mutual cooperation and activities in this regard.
Both the countries agreed to take up the activities of capacity building in the power sector. At this time, the details of the training capacity of BPMI were presented by Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the meeting of Bangladesh-Nepal Joint Working Group on cooperation in the power sector was held virtually yesterday. The 2nd meeting of Bangladesh-Nepal Joint Working Group and Joint Steering Committee was held in June 2019 in Cox's Bazar. The 4th meeting of the Bangladesh-Nepal Joint Working Group and the Joint Steering Committee will be held in Nepal in March/April 2022.
