'Bangladesh to import additional 2,000 MW power from India'

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said the government has undertaken an initiative to import additional 2,000 MW electricity from neighbouring India within the next two years.

"Currently we are importing 600 MW power from India and will import additional 2,000 MW in the next two years," he said while addressing here as the chief the closing ceremony of a training programme on "Green Banking for Sustainable Energy." 

Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ), Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) and Bangladesh Institute of Bank management (BIBM) jointly organised the training. Chaired by Director General of BIBM Dr Towfiq Ahmed Chowdhury, the function was also addressed, among others, by chairman of SREDA M Helal Uddin, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank SK Sur Chowdhury and Deputy Head of German Embassy to Bangladesh Michael Shulthaei. 

The state minister said the government has been working relentlessly to supply electricity to the doorsteps of the common people. Power is now being reached to Patuakhali side by side with other remote areas across the country," he said.

Nosrul said the government is increasing power generation along with importing electricity from abroad on a reasonable price. Nepal and Bhutan can generate power at a cost of Taka 2 per kilowatt hour and they are capable to export 5,000 MW. 

He said that the government is working to import power from Nepal and Bhutan, who have agreed to export electricity to Bangladesh, adding, "We are thinking about bringing power from there through investment."

The State Minister said it is now necessary to extend research activities as power is a very important component for sustainable development. He referred to research based education as the power and energy ministry has already established a research institute named "Energy Research Council."

In this respect, he underscored the need for increasing research activities at the university level, saying, "thus we can resolve our problems through research programmes."

The government has undertaken various environment friendly initiatives for power generation and its supply as Bangladesh is a green country and many biotechnologies should be introduced here, he said. 

The state minister said the government allowed installation of 50 lakh solar home systems in rural areas and is trying to supply power to every corner of the country.

Source: BSS