India seeks power grid connectivity with Bangladesh
Sunday, 2 November 2008
FE Report
Indian State Minister for Power Jairam Ramesh has sought power grid connectivity with Bangladesh to ensure smooth flow of electricity between the two countries, officials said Saturday.
The power grid connection between Bangladesh and India would help reduce the nagging electricity crisis in both the countries through electricity flow during peak demands, they said.
Peak hours of these countries are different and their demands also vary paving a way for electricity exchange between these two countries, a senior power division official said.
During a meeting with Bangladesh's Power Secretary Fauzul Kabir Khan the Indian state minister also sought transit permission to carry equipment of a large power plant from Kolkata port to Tripura in India through Ashuganj and Akhaura landports of Bangladesh.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) of India is installing the power plant having an electricity generation capacity of over 700 MW at Palatana, some 60 kilometres off Tripura's capital Agartala.
Transit through Bangladesh will facilitate completion of the project much earlier than the schedule as the total distance by waterway and roadway from Kolkata port to the project site through Bangladesh would be around 950 km instead of over 2000 km if the plant machinery pass through India.
Bangladesh, however, sought formal proposal from the Indian side before taking the issue into consideration.
The issues like national security and benefit out of it should also be looked into before giving approval to such a proposal, said s power division official.
Besides, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who is also holding the position of state minister for commerce, sought time extension for starting electricity generation from two of the Indian company-operated power plants in Bangladesh.
Indian State Minister for Power Jairam Ramesh has sought power grid connectivity with Bangladesh to ensure smooth flow of electricity between the two countries, officials said Saturday.
The power grid connection between Bangladesh and India would help reduce the nagging electricity crisis in both the countries through electricity flow during peak demands, they said.
Peak hours of these countries are different and their demands also vary paving a way for electricity exchange between these two countries, a senior power division official said.
During a meeting with Bangladesh's Power Secretary Fauzul Kabir Khan the Indian state minister also sought transit permission to carry equipment of a large power plant from Kolkata port to Tripura in India through Ashuganj and Akhaura landports of Bangladesh.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) of India is installing the power plant having an electricity generation capacity of over 700 MW at Palatana, some 60 kilometres off Tripura's capital Agartala.
Transit through Bangladesh will facilitate completion of the project much earlier than the schedule as the total distance by waterway and roadway from Kolkata port to the project site through Bangladesh would be around 950 km instead of over 2000 km if the plant machinery pass through India.
Bangladesh, however, sought formal proposal from the Indian side before taking the issue into consideration.
The issues like national security and benefit out of it should also be looked into before giving approval to such a proposal, said s power division official.
Besides, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who is also holding the position of state minister for commerce, sought time extension for starting electricity generation from two of the Indian company-operated power plants in Bangladesh.