Regional energy cooperation welcome

Bangladesh's energy woes may soon be over as short and long-term regional energy exchange among four countries appears to be taking off finally. With a master plan envisaging import of about 3,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Saarc countries, this is indeed great news for energy-starved Bangladesh. Regional energy cooperation is going to be a crucial part of Bangladesh's vision to generate or import electricity to the tune of 39,000 MW by 2030. Currently, the country is importing, or negotiating to import, approximately 600 MW from neighbouring India. This is planned to go up to 2,000 MW in 2018. With India setting up several hydroelectricity power plants in its North-East region, Bangladesh territory will have to be used to channel produced electricity to other regions.

Modalities on who will pay for what and other finer details involving capital expenditure on the establishment of infrastructure are still in the works. Once interconnectors and transmission lines are installed, Bangladesh will be in a position to import electricity, not just from India but from Bhutan and Nepal. For all these to become reality, the four countries will have to speed up the Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) and Bimstec Trans-Power Exchange and Development project. Similarly the setting up of a common grid will pave the way for member countries to sell surplus power to each other. We would like to congratulate the government on its efforts in getting regional energy cooperation off the ground. There is much work to be done before trading of energy across nations becomes a reality.