Govt to import 30-50 MW more power from India

The government decided on Wednesday to import 30-50 megawatt (MW) more power from India to mitigate local demand for electricity, officials said.
The decision was made at a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase at  the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat.
Finance Minister A M A Muhith presided over the meeting that approved a total of four projects.
The projects are - importing power from India, and setting up a 400 MW dual-fuel power plant in Sirajganj.
The other two projects are - dredging work for improving navigability of Gaglagor-Mohonganj route, and South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) road that involve a combined cost of Tk 20.78 billion.
"The cabinet committee on public purchase approved import of 30-50 MW more power from open market in India," additional secretary of Cabinet Division Md Mostafizur Rahman told the media after the meeting.
He said electricity import from the next-door neighbour will be done through limited tender.
There will be tender pre-qualification. After that Power Division will select the eligible party for importing electricity from India, he added.
Per unit price for importing power will be finalised later on, according to Power Division.  
The country has been importing 500 MW of electricity from India since October 2013 through grid interconnectivity between Behrampur and Bheramara.
The average price for a kilowatt-hour of electricity from India is nearly Tk 6.0 per unit including transmission cost.
The cabinet committee approved establishment of a 400 MW dual-fuel power plant in Sirajganj with 22 years duration.
It also approved SASEC connecting road under Joydevpur- Chandra-Tangail-Elenga highway project at a cost of Tk 19.99 billion, which will be completed through three separate lots. Road Transport and Highways Division will implement the project.  
Dredging work by cutter suction dredger for improving navigability of Gaglagor-Mohonganj route under the first phase of government initiative for capital dredging of 53 river routes also got nod of the committee. Ministry of Shipping will carry out the project.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com