Tripartite deal soon to supply power to Bangladesh from Nepal via India

An understanding has been reached in principle for the supply of electricity to Bangladesh from Nepal via an Indian transmission line and a formal agreement between the three nations will be signed soon on this, according to officials at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The three countries have reached a verbal understanding to export electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh, according to Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson at the NEA, reports the Economic Times.

There has been an understanding to export 40 MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh in the first phase. A formal agreement to this effect will take place very soon, according to Bhattarai. He also added India is positive regarding supplying electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh by using its transmission line.

Bangladesh is planning to purchase 9,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the long run, sources said.

The formal agreement to supply electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh via India is expected to be signed within a couple of weeks, sources at the NEA said. 

Power Purchase Document has been agreed between Nepal and Bangladesh but the tariff and trade margin are yet to be finalised, said Prabal Adhikakry, a senior official at the NEA.

Though a formal agreement is yet to be signed among the three countries, PPA and other terms are agreed upon through email, he added.

During the fifth meeting of the secretary-level Joint Steering Committee on energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh in May, the two sides agreed to start trading power by taking India on board.