Khulna, Bangladesh (BBN)– German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Albrecht Conze said power generation needs to be taken into account to minimize environmental risks.

“Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in generating the electricity the country needs to attain a middle-income status," the German envoy at a press conference held at the conference room of Khulna Power Company Limited (KPCL) in city's Khalishpur Goalpara Barge Mounted Power Plant on Sunday.

The ambassador said he is not convinced that the positive effects of the Rampal Power Plant, which is expected to provide 1,320 MW of electricity for the south-west of Bangladesh, will outweigh the environmental risks of the project.

The German envoy welcomed recent reports indicating Bangladesh's interest in working together with Nepal and Bhutan to use the potential of water energy.

The conference was addressed also by Moniruzzaman Moni, Mayor of Khulna City Corporation, Lisa Steinacher, Director (Special Program) KFW Development Bank, Dhaka Office and Tapon Kumar Roy, executive Director Power Grid Company Bangladesh Ltd.

BBN/SSR/AD-16Mar14-11:41 pm (BST)