Committees on BD-Nepal energy coop soon

Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to form two committees to discuss the opportunities to explore hydropower potentials and energy trade options between the two countries as soon as possible.
In line with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in August 2018, officials of both countries expressed firm satisfaction to implement fast-track process of importing hydroelectricity from Himalayan country.
Following a two day meeting in Kathmandu, Bangladesh's Power Secretary Dr Ahmed Kaikaus and Nepal's officials concerned have reached the decision in the concluding day of the meeting on Tuesday, according to the Power division.
"The state ministers for power and energy of the two countries signed the deal in Kathmandu to implement the idea, however, it was a regular meeting and we agreed to form the committees to carry on the idea," the official said.
According to the agreement in this regard, a power secretary-level joint steering committee and joint secretary-level joint working group have been formed to discuss and take forward the issues related to the bilateral cooperation in power sector.
Nepal has the prospects of producing 40,000MW of hydropower, and Bangladesh's state-run and private companies can invest in the country's future projects. However, Nepal imports 400MW electricity from India but has set a goal to produce 15,000MW of hydropower in 10 years, according to the Nepal's government plan.
"It needs huge money to implement it. However, we (Bangladesh) are willing to invest here through India," the official added.
Bangladesh and Nepal started talking on bilateral energy cooperation since the power trade agreement (PTA) was signed with India in 2014. Nepal has identified Bangladesh as a prospective market for hydroelectricity.
Power Division said Bangladesh's current electricity generation stands at around 16,000MW, which needs to be raised to 34,000MW by 2030 in order to sustain the country's high economic growth of above 7 per cent. It also said there is a prospect of energy trade between Bangladesh and Nepal as GMR Energy India has signed MoU to sell power produced from Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, which is going to be developed under Indian investment, to Bangladesh.
"There is no fixed timeline for submitting any report to the ministry. However, all things will take shape very soon," the official added.