Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Burma has reportedly agreed to build two hydropower plants aimed at exporting around 575 megawatts (mw) of electricity to Bangladesh, officials said.
A high-powered Bangladesh delegation received Burmese consent over cross-border electricity trade during its recent visit to the country.
A Burma, officially known as Myanmar, delegation will visit Dhaka shortly to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the electricity trade between the two neighboring countries, the Financial Express (FE), a local newspaper, reported quoting a senior power ministry official.
Before signing the final deal, Burma has sought power purchase guarantee from Bangladesh, said the official, also a member of the delegation that visited the country last week.
The power plants having the electricity generation capacity of 500mw and 75mw respectively have been planned to be installed at Michuang and Lemro areas under Rakhine state in Burma, which are close to Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar.
Shwe Taung Development Company, a Burmese company, has already tied up with a Chinese firm to build these power plants targeting to export the output to Bangladesh.
It has already got lease of land in the Rakhine state to set up the power plants.
After signing power transmission deal with the neighbouring India, Bangladesh has approached Burma to import electricity under similar arrangements, officials added.
BBN/SI/AD-02Sept10-11:21 am (BST)
