INDO-BANGLA cross-border power exchange

ADB pledges $120m to scale up capacity

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh yesterday signed an agreements for $120 million in loans to help finance increased transmission capacity of a cross-border electricity link between India and Bangladesh.
Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Mohammad Mejbahuddin and Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission of ADB, Kazuhiko Higuchi signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh and ADB respectively, at a ceremony at ERD, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, in the city.
“This assistance will support Bangladesh to better meet rapidly rising power demand,” says Country Director Kazuhiko Higuchi.
“The interconnection project is part of efforts under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program to promote regional prosperity and improve economic opportunities through strengthened cross-border links in trade, power, road and rail networks,” he said.
The SASEC Second Bangladesh-India Electrical Grid Interconnection Project will double the capacity of the existing 500 megawatts interconnection system which links the power grid of western Bangladesh at Bheramara and the grid of eastern India at Bahrampur.
The two networks were first interconnected in 2013, under a previous project financed by ADB.
Bangladesh’s fast-growing economy has soaring energy needs, and demand is exceeding domestic natural gas supplies, resulting in an increasing dependence on oil and diesel-based plants.  To meet its goal of providing electricity for all by 2021, the government is working to increase generating capacity and to source additional supply.
The initial linking of the two national grids helped India deliver over 2,000 gigawatt hours of electricity across the border in 2014.
The interconnection project is part of efforts under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program to promote regional prosperity and improve economic opportunities through strengthened cross-border links in trade, power, road and rail networks. Its members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Along with ADB’s loan assistance, the Government of Bangladesh will provide financing of $63.2 million for the project, which is expected to be completed in June 2018.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.
In 2014, ADB assistance totaled $22.9 billion, including co-financing of $9.2 billion.

INDO-BANGLA cross-border power exchange

ADB pledges $120m to scale up capacity

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh yesterday signed an agreements for $120 million in loans to help finance increased transmission capacity of a cross-border electricity link between India and Bangladesh. Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Mohammad Mejbahuddin and Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission of ADB, Kazuhiko Higuchi signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh and ADB respectively, at a ceremony at ERD, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, in the city. This assistance will support Bangladesh to better meet rapidly rising power demand, says Country Director Kazuhiko Higuchi. The interconnection project is part of efforts under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program to promote regional prosperity and improve economic opportunities through strengthened cross-border links in trade, power, road and rail networks, he said. The SASEC Second Bangladesh-India Electrical Grid Interconnection Project will double the capacity of the existing 500 megawatts interconnection system which links the power grid of western Bangladesh at Bheramara and the grid of eastern India at Bahrampur. The two networks were first interconnected in 2013, under a previous project financed by ADB. Bangladeshs fast-growing economy has soaring energy needs, and demand is exceeding domestic natural gas supplies, resulting in an increasing dependence on oil and diesel-based plants. To meet its goal of providing electricity for all by 2021, the government is working to increase generating capacity and to source additional supply. The initial linking of the two national grids helped India deliver over 2,000 gigawatt hours of electricity across the border in 2014. The interconnection project is part of efforts under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program to promote regional prosperity and improve economic opportunities through strengthened cross-border links in trade, power, road and rail networks. Its members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Along with ADBs loan assistance, the Government of Bangladesh will provide financing of $63.2 million for the project, which is expected to be completed in June 2018. ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members48 from the region. In 2014, ADB assistance totaled $22.9 billion, including co-financing of $9.2 billion.