Tripura to supply 100MW power from March 23
Dhaka: Tripura government of India is set to supply 100 megawatt (MW) electricity to Bangladesh from March 23 under no-electricity, no-payment method.
‘We have already fixed the per unit power price with the Tripura government at Taka 6.43 per unit,’ Director General of Power Cell Mohammad Hossain told BSS in Dhaka on Thursday.
He said an agreement regarding import of electricity from India‘s eastern province was finalized following fixation of tariff for 100MW power, adding, ‘The power purchase agreement (PPA) would be signed with the Indian authorities prior to commencing the import.’
Hossain said Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Premier Narendra Modi will jointly inaugurate the occasion through a video conference on March 23.
He said the Tripura government was supposed to supply 100 MW power to Bangladesh from December 16 last, but it was not possible due to incomplete of some necessary works.
According to a ministry official, the infrastructure for importing another 100MW has already been laid out. The 100 MW power will be in addition to 500 MW, which Bangladesh is already receiving from West Bengal.
The first 250 MW power is being purchased at Taka 4.5 per unit while the rest 250 MW is being purchased at Taka 6.00 per unit, the Director General said adding currently Bangladesh is importing 500 MW power from India through Bheramara since 2014.
The Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and the Power Generation Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), both state-owned companies, tested the transmission lines on their respective sides in December last year.
The process of installing a 47km-long transmission line from Tripura to southern Comilla in Bangladesh has also been completed.
Authorities in Dhaka and Tripura agreed on a set of terms of references last month to trade 100 megawatts of electricity from Tripura at Tk 6.45 per unit under no-electricity, no-payment method. The electricity will be imported from southern Tripura’s Palatana power plant.