Dechen Dolkar

The Government of India (GoI) has agreed to facilitate the export of electricity from Bhutan to Bangladesh through India.

Bangladesh plans to initially import around 1,500MW of electricity from Bhutan.

According to the foreign and external trade ministry, the proposed trilateral hydropower cooperation among Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India, both the government, India and Bhutan expressed their commitment towards greater sub-regional cooperation, including in the energy sector, which would lead to increased inter-linkages between the economies for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.

Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji said that GoI committed to facilitate the trade of electricity to Bangladesh, adding that GoI however is concerned that the current grid line in India doesn’t have the capacity to carry the amount of electricity to Bangladesh. Nepal also uses the Indian grid line to transport electricity to Bangladesh through India.

“GoI has instructed Bhutan and Bangladesh to finalise on modalities of export,” Lyonpo said.

Lyonpo said that GoI is concerned as to whether Bangladesh has enough grid capacity to transport power from India.

Although Adani Group is constructing the transmission line to supply power from India to Bangladesh, it has limited capacity to carry the electricity.

Bhutan and Bangladesh should finalise as to how much electricity would be exported and from which hydro project.

Lyonpo said that as yet the only option to export electricity to Bangladesh would be through the sale of excess electricity during summer.

An official from Embassy of Bangladesh in Thimphu said that the modality of trade of electricity would be decided after the bilateral agreement between Bhutan and Bangladesh.