Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh and India signed a 35-year power transmission deal on Monday aiming to import 250 megawatt (MW) electricity from the close door neighbour within 2012.
Under the agreement, the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will purchase electricity from various Indian power plants and import through the regional transmission system of the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI).
BPDB Secretary Azizul Islam and PGCI Executive Director Arun Kumar signed the agreement on behalf of the respective parties in the capital, Dhaka Monday evening, officials said.
The first-ever bilateral electricity trade agreement keeps the provision for Bangladesh to export power to India in the future, and the transmission system will have the capacity to exchange 500 MW of power soon after the system is launched.
The agreement is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed on January 3 this year during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi.
The PGCI will construct, own, operate and maintain the transmission system, along with establishment of 400 kilovolt (KV) switching station at Bahrampur in India, loop in and loop out of Farakka-Jeerat 400 KV single circuit line at Bahrampur, according to the agreement.
It will also construct, own, operate and maintain Bahrampur-Bheramara 400 KV double circuit line.
BBN/SSR/SI/AD-27JUly10-2:04 pm (BST)
