power import from Tripura
Discord over tariff
FAISAL MAHMUD
Disagreement between India and Bangladesh over fixing the tariff may delay the import of 100 megawatt (MW) of electricity from Palatana power plant in the Indian state of Tripura.
The power purchase agreement (PPA) between the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is yet to be signed. The government wants to start importing electricity from next month.
The ONGC commissioned its biggest ever gas-fired commercial power project at Palatana in southern Tripura, 60km south of Agartala, last December. Import of electricity from the 726MW-project will be similar to the existing system between West Bengals Behrampore and Bheramara in Bangladesh.
Mahbubur Rahman, director of Independent Power Producer (IPP) cell-3 and a member of the joint working committee between India and Bangladesh, told The Independent that it is not about disagreement but rather negotiation.
He said cross-border power import is not a simple process and some delay usually occurs because of negotiations. Our team visited India two weeks ago and an Indian team came here on November 6 to discuss the tariff. We hope to resolve the issue in the joint working committee meeting on November 27, he added.
When asked whether the PPA will be signed in that meeting, Rahman said, Were working on it.
The state-owned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCBL) has already been installing electricity transmission lines to import electricity from Tripura. Arun Kumar Saha, chief engineer (planning and design) of PGCBL, told The Independent that work is going on in full swing to set up the 27km transmission line. PGCIL is setting up a 24km transmission line on the Indian side as well. Both PGCBL and PGCIL had conducted a joint feasibility study in May. Saha said the network will be completed by mid-December. Electricity from Palatana will reach Bangladesh through Jangalia in Comilla, he added.
The government is spending around Tk200 crore to complete installation of the transmission line, Saha said, adding that there is no need to build a substation.
