New Delhi [India], November 15 : Following the joint inauguration of the first trilateral power flow transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs hailed the development as a significant boost to sub-regional connectivity and a new benchmark in the South Asian power sector.
Sharing a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "Nepal's power will now reach Bangladesh via the Indian grid, marking the first trilateral power transaction. Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs @mlkhattar along with Md. Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser, Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources of Bangladesh & Mr. Dipak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources & Irrigation of Nepal, jointly inaugurated the historic milestone in regional energy cooperation."
"This landmark development strengthens sub-regional connectivity and sets a new benchmark in the South Asian power sector," the post added.
https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1857390280237862944
Meanwhile, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the initiative reflects India's commitment to strengthening sustainable growth in South Asia.
In a post on X, Khattar wrote, "A Landmark feat in Regional Energy Cooperation! Virtually inaugurated the first-ever power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh via the Indian grid today. This historic initiative reflects India's commitment to fostering regional energy integration and sustainable growth in South Asia.
https://x.com/mlkhattar/status/1857367612151542006
On Thursday, Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, jointly inaugurated the first trilateral power flow transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh through a virtual event hosted by Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation on Friday.
Khattar, along with Md Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser of Bangladesh's Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, and Nepali Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Dipak Khadka, inaugurated the power flow transaction, which had been carried out through the Indian grid.
According to a press statement, the power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh, through the Indian grid, will export up to 40 MW of power.
The transaction was announced earlier in June 2023, during the visit of the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, to India from May 31 to June 3.
During the visit, both sides expressed their commitment towards greater sub-regional cooperation, including in the energy sector, which would lead to increased interlinkages between the economies for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.
Following the inauguration, Union Minister Khattar said that the move would benefit all three countries in the region.
"The power departments of the three countries have entered into an agreement with each other, Regional Cooperation for Power Purchase Sale and Distribution and Transmission, in which Nepal has signed an agreement with Bangladesh for 40 MW hydropower. The Nepal government has used India's transmission grid to send its electricity to Bangladesh... I think this will benefit all three countries," Khattar said.
A tripartite power sales agreement between NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, the Nepal Electricity Authority, and the Bangladesh Power Development Board was signed back in October this year in Kathmandu.
The start of this power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh through India is expected to boost sub-regional connectivity in the power sector, the statement added.