Photo: Collected
Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has announced that the Nepalese government is working to export 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh via India. According to a report by the Kathmandu Post, Prime Minister Oli made this statement during a session of Nepal's House of Representatives on Thursday.
Oli mentioned that most of the work related to the electricity trade has already been completed. The only remaining task is to sign the agreement between the energy ministers of Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. However, due to political instability in Bangladesh, the scheduled signing ceremony was canceled. The agreement was initially set to take place on July 28.
He further noted that the proposed agreement has been a top priority for the Nepalese government since the establishment of energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh over the past six years. In the second week of June, the Bangladeshi Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the proposal to import 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal.
Oli emphasized that after the improvement of the situation in Bangladesh and the formation of an interim government, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation of Nepal are working to finalize the agreement as quickly as possible.
Highlighting the significance of the deal, Oli stated that it would be a major milestone for sub-regional energy cooperation in South Asia, as it would mark the first time Nepal exports electricity to Bangladesh. By 2034/35, Nepal's total electricity production capacity is expected to reach 28,500 megawatts. Of this, 13,500 megawatts will meet domestic demand, and the remaining 15,000 megawatts will be exported to India and Bangladesh, with the possibility of including other countries as well.
