Dhaka: A top energy ministry bureaucrat
from Bangladesh will visit New Delhi on Wednesday for preparatory
energy cooperation talks ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina`s India visit next month when the two countries are
expected to ink a deal on power sharing.
"We are leaving here with a delegation tomorrow for New
Delhi as part of preparatory works for the energy talks during
the prime minister`s forthcoming visit to India," Power
Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said to a news agency.
He said the Bangladesh delegation, which he would lead,
would discuss the modus operandi of importing at least 100 mw
power from India as offered during the September visit of
foreign minister Dipu Moni to the Indian capital.
Besides, Azad said, he would hold talks on equity sharing
in a power project in Tripura as Dhaka earlier agreed to offer
overland transport facilities through Bangladesh for carrying
equipment for the installation.
"The SAARC power grid connectivity is another major issue
which we are expecting to discuss with our Indian counterpart
and other concerned people in New Delhi," during the five-day
visit.
The Daily Star newspaper quoting the state-run Power
Development Board chairman Alamgir Kabir, who would accompany
the power secretary, said they would also discuss future
cooperation for human resources and technical development
between the Bangladesh Power Development Board and its Indian
counterpart state-run power producer NTPC.
He also said they would discuss if a technical team could
be set up to scrutinise the issue of power inter-connectivity
between India and Bangladesh and review the modalities of
power purchase on short-term and long-term basis.
Energy-starved Bangladesh has long been hammering on
setting up a SAARC Grid for regional power inter-connectivity
so cheap hydropower could be imported from Nepal or Bhutan.
The energy ministry officials said the Bangladesh
delegation would discuss the issue of equity sharing in the
under-construction Tripura Palatana 750 MW power project as
India last year proposed through the World Bank that
Bangladesh could have an equity of 25 percent to 30 percent
in the project.
The proposal got momentum as Bangladesh in September in
principle agreed to provide access to Ashuganj river port to
facilitate overland transport facilities for the Palatana
power project.
Experts earlier said the two countries would need to
construct power transmission lines, build or expand bordering
sub-station facility and take up other measures.
Bureau Report
