Govt expects \\\'$10b investment\\\' in power sector in next 5 yrs

The government expects US$10 billion investment in power sector over the next five years, as many foreign companies, including some from India, China and Singapore, want to invest in the sector.

State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid said this while addressing a briefing session at Bidyut Bhaban in the city on Saturday for some journalists who are going to visit India to see different coal-fired power plants there, reports UNB.

The state minister said Bangladesh wants to become a middle-income country within a short period of time for which a huge investment is required in the power sector.

Referring to different 'environment-friendly' power plants and power substations, he said Bangladesh will set up sophisticated power plants in the future which will have very low emission rate having environment-friendly features.

About power transmission and distribution system in Dhaka city, Nasrul Hamid said the government is contemplating replacing the overhead transmission and distribution lines with underground ones as in developed cities.

He said Bangladesh needs cooperation from India to resolve its power crisis, particularly in regard to power import from Nepal and Bhutan through Indian corridors.