Nepali Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation is preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries, according to a report published on thehimalayantimes.com.
Nepal and Bangladesh have been talking on bilateral energy cooperation since the power trade agreement (PTA) was signed with India in 2014.
Nepal has identified Bangladesh as a prospective market for hydroelectricity, which is a clean and renewable source of energy.
Following the SAARC member states agreement on 'SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity)' in November 2014, Nepal and Bangladesh have seen the prospects of bilateral power cooperation.
Recently, Nepal Energy Minister Barshaman Pun also said that the government is preparing to sign an MoU on energy cooperation with Bangladesh through which the country can lure investment from Bangladesh to exploit Nepal's hydro resources.
However, to materialise power trade between the two nations, Nepal and Bangladesh need to hold talks with India.
As there is power trade between Nepal and India, and also Bangladesh and India, power trade between Nepal and Bangladesh is not a far-fetched notion, according to Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal, Mashfee Binte Shams.
Talking to The Himalayan Times, Ambassador Shams said that both countries are preparing to sign a MoU on energy cooperation and they can enter into a power trade agreement, which is a more specific document. However, trilateral consensus is must for the PTA to be signed.
There is prospect of energy trade between Nepal and Bangladesh as GMR Energy India has signed MoU to sell power produced from Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, which is going to be developed under Indian investment to Bangladesh.
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