Govt exploring ways of importing gas, hydropower from Myanmar

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MM Azizur Rahman
Bangladesh in its first-ever attempt is exploring the ways of importing natural gas from gas-rich Myanmar to feed the mounting demands for hydrocarbon in terms of both domestic and industrial use.
The government is also moving ahead with a plan to import hydropower from Myanmar as a high-powered Bangladesh team has just concluded a three-day official visit there to find out the ways of bringing in hydropower.
"I have already asked the Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar to initiate talks with the concerned authorities there to facilitate import of natural gas from the gas-rich country," Energy and Power Adviser Tapan Chowdhury told the newsmen Sunday.
He said the government is weighing every option to enhance gas supply to meet the growing local demands.
As far as gas from Myanmar is concerned, the country was earlier in a position to allow a gas pipeline through Bangladesh territory to carry Myanmar's gas to India.
The energy adviser, however, did not mention anything about the stalled negotiations on the proposed US$1.0 billion (100 crore) tri-nation gas pipeline.
Pointing to the progress in import of hydropower from Myanmar, Power Division Secretary M Fouzul Kabir Khan said the Bangladesh team has found three potential sites in Rakhaine state for setting up a hydropower plant.
"Lemro River, Saindong River and Luchain River are the potential sites," he told the newsmen.
He also said, of the three rivers, Lemro River is the best possible site from where hydropower to the tune of over 500 megawatts (MW) could be brought in.
The Lemro is around 100 kilometres away from the Bangladesh border, but a number of high hills are there between the two territories.
"We will carry out a feasibility study in November next to determine whether import of hydroelectricity from Myanmar will be viable both technically and financially," he mentioned.
The issues like royalty, transmission costs and installation costs will be the crux of the feasibility study, he said.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two countries before initiating the feasibility study.
"The planned hydropower project in Myanmar must be on a win-win basis for both the countries and it must be ensured it is a big project having a huge electricity production capacity," Khan added.
The four-member delegation led by the Power Division secretary visited Myanmar from July 10-14 to explore the potential of setting up the hydropower plant there.
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman Khijir Khan, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB) managing director Harun-or-Rashid and Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar also accompanied the secretary.
They held discussions with the Myanmar policy makers including the Minister of Electric Power and other power experts.