Bangladesh, Nepal, India sign pact to facilitate cross-border power trade
- Nepal, India and Bangladesh signed a tripartite agreement to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, officials here said.
Highlights:
- On Thursday, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh signed a significant tripartite agreement to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, marking a milestone in regional energy cooperation. This agreement enables Nepal to export surplus hydroelectricity to Bangladesh via Indian territory, strengthening energy ties between the three nations.
Key Details of the Agreement:
- Electricity Export: Under the agreement, Nepal will export surplus electricity to Bangladesh every year from June 15 to November 15.
- First Phase: In the initial phase, 40 MW of hydroelectricity will be exported from Nepal to Bangladesh.
- Rate: The electricity rate has been set at 6.4 cents per unit, which will generate approximately USD 9.2 million annually for Nepal.
Roles and Contributions:
- India's Role: India will facilitate the transmission of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh by allowing the use of its territory for the transfer.
- Signatories: The agreement was formalized with key officials signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU):
- Kulman Ghising, Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)
- Deino Naran, CEO of NTPC Vidyut Byapar Nigam (India)
- Mohamad Rizwan Karim, Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board
Ministerial Presence:
- The signing ceremony in Kathmandu was witnessed by Nepal’s Energy Minister Dipak Khadka and Bangladeshi Energy Minister Sayeda Rijwana Hasan, further highlighting the strategic importance of the agreement for all three countries.
Prelims Takeaways:
- India Bangladesh relations
- India’s agreements with Nepal in various sector