Feasibility study likely on bringing

Feasibility study likely on bringing

Indian electricity to Bangladesh
USAID willing to conduct the study
Aminul Islam

NewAge, 19th May 2006
Dhaka, Bangladesh

A feasibility study on inter-connecting Bangladesh power grid with India's North Eastern grid for brining power from India is likely to be conducted soon by the United States Agency for International Development, said sources in the Power Division.

The US agency - USAID - this week proposed to conduct the study that would take three to six months. It said trans-border electricity network could be developed to meet power demand in Bangladesh on a short-term basis for one to five years.

The agency said a regional infrastructure on inter-connecting power grid lines could be developed including SAARC and BIMSTEC countries, said sources.

The agency's mission director, Gene George, in a letter proposed that the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Cooperation and Development, a programme of the agency, would conduct the study.

He proposed the division to send experts for the study. The main objective of the study would be to ascertain bankable power, he said. A high official of the division said it was a 'good proposal' and there was no problem in having an expert on the study team.

'We have just received the letter. We will discuss the issue with the high ups in the government and send a reply,' he said. He said the issue of inter-connecting power grids in the South Asian region was discussed at the SAARC ministerial meeting in Delhi last month.