Dhaka seeks faster Chinese funding for power projects

The Power Division has requested China Exim Bank to expedite financing for power sector projects, including the expansion of Payra power plant, smart grid and control system development, and upgrades to the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) network. 

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood made the request during a meeting with China Exim Bank President Wang Chunying at his Secretariat office on Thursday. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and economic cooperation in the power sector.

The minister said a stable power and energy supply was fundamental to national development and economic growth.
Referring to Bangladesh’s shift towards clean energy under the Renewable Energy Policy 2026, he urged the bank to expedite financing for future projects, particularly the modernisation of national grid control systems, expansion of the Payra power plant and strengthening of transmission lines in the DPDC area.

He also invited Wang to visit project sites financed by the bank in Bangladesh.

The meeting discussed financing for the Payra Thermal Power Plant Project, the Power Grid Network Strengthening Project under the government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, and the Expansion and Strengthening of Power Network under the DPDC area project. 

Both sides agreed to accelerate institutional responses to speed up financing clearances for the grid-strengthening and DPDC network expansion projects.