Bangladesh to receive 1,100 MW of power from India from January

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Finance
03-March, 2017 11:21 IST
The Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley, shared India’s experience in reforming its economy and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) at the Nepal Investment Summit 2017 held at Kathmandu on 2-3 March, 2017

India and Nepal have wide ranging engagement in trade and investment and Nepal is well poised to attract further FDI from India

The Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley, shared India’s experience in reforming its economy and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) at the Nepal Investment Summit 2017 held at Kathmandu on 2-3 March, 2017. He stated that Indian and Nepal share deep-rooted historical, cultural and religious ties which have enabled extensive cooperation in trade and economic fields between the two countries.

While addressing the Nepal Investment Summit 2017, the Union Minister of Finance stated that India and Nepal have wide ranging engagement in trade and investment and that Nepal is well poised to attract further FDI from India by creation of a conducive legal and regulatory framework. India is Nepal’s largest partner in trade and investment with more than 2/3rd of Nepal’s trade being with India and India accounting for nearly 40% of total FDI in Nepal. The two countries have open border, grant national treatment to each other’s citizens and millions of Nepali citizens live and work in India. Nepal has several important sectors such as hydropower, transmission lines, road and rail networks, health, education, tourism, irrigation etc in which it can attract Indian investments. India is ready to invest in the projects of Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track road, second international airport at Nijgadh, Koshi High Dam etc.

During his official visit, the Union Minister of Finance called on the President of Nepal Smt Bidya Devi Bhandari and the Prime Minister Shri Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. He also held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Nepal Shri Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Industry Minister Shri Nabindra Raj Joshi. The Union Minister of Finance also paid obeisance at the Pashupati Nath Temple.

In his bilateral meetings, the Union Minister of Finance conveyed India’s abiding commitment to partner with Nepal in meeting its aspirations for socio-economic growth. Recalling the construction of several Integrated Check Posts, rail links, Hulaki roads, schools, health posts, etc with Indian assistance, Shri Arun Jaitley stated that India stands ready to make available more soft loans for new infrastructure projects which would enable Nepal grow at a fast pace.

In order to address the issue of high trade deficit, Shri Arun Jaitley suggested that Nepal may expand its export basket by attracting more Indian investment in export-oriented industries. Further, the early completion of power projects like Upper Karnali and Arun-III, Nepal would be able to export electricity to India. He urged that the issues of forest land and land acquisition which have delayed the projects should be resolved at the earliest.

The Nepali leaders thanked Shri Arun Jaitley for India’s development assistance and highly appreciated India’s assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepal. Deputy PM of Nepal Shri Mahara in particular thanked the Government of India for facilitating export of nearly 380 MW of electricity throughout this winter which has enabled several regions of Nepal become free of load-shedding. The two countries now have transmission lines for trade of nearly 500 MW of electricity, which would increase to over 750 MW by mid-2017.

The visit of Union Minister of Finance to Nepal highlights the importance India attaches to its relations with Nepal. The meetings were held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, which traditionally characterize the relations between India and Nepal.

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[Hindustani78]

A Nepalese delegation led by the Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Labour, Shri Prabhu Sah calling on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on March 07, 2017. The Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha, Shri Jagdambika Pal is also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh in a group photograph with a Nepalese delegation led by the Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Labour, Shri Prabhu Sah, in New Delhi on March 07, 2017. The Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha, Shri Jagdambika Pal is also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Power
29-March, 2017 09:43 IST
India becomes Net Exporter of Electricity for the first Time

As per Central Electricity Authority, the Designated Authority of Government of India for Cross Border Trade of Electricity, 1st time India has turned around from a net importer of electricity to Net Exporter of electricity. During the current year 2016-17 (April to February 2017), India has exported around 5,798 Million Units to Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar which is 213 Million units more than the import of around 5,585 Million units from Bhutan. Export to Nepal and Bangladesh increased 2.5 and 2.8 times respectively in last three years.

Ever since the cross border trade of electricity started in mid-Eighties, India has been importing power from Bhutan and marginally exporting to Nepal in radial mode at 33 kV and 132 kV from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. On an average Bhutan has been supplying around 5,000- 5500 Million units to India.

India had also been exporting around 190 MW power to Nepal over 12 cross border interconnections at 11kV, 33kV and 132 kV level. The export of power to Nepal further increased by around 145 MW with commissioning of Muzaffarpur (India)– Dhalkhebar(Nepal) 400kV line (being operated at 132 kV) in 2016.

Export of power to Bangladesh from India got further boost with commissioning of 1st cross border Interconnection between Baharampur in India and Bheramara in Bangladesh at 400kV in September 2013. It was further augmented by commissioning of 2nd cross border Interconnection between Surjyamaninagar (Tripura) in India and South Comilla in Bangladesh. At present around 600 MW power is being exported to Bangladesh.

Export of power to Nepal is expected to increase by around 145 MW shortly over 132 kV Katiya (Bihar)– Kusaha (Nepal) and 132 kV Raxaul (Bihar)– Parwanipur (Nepal).

A few more cross border links with neighbouring countries are in pipe line which would further increase export of Power.

*****

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Finance
31-March, 2017 14:36 IST
South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Operational Plan (OP) 2016-25 includes nine projects worth $2.4 Billion


Three projects – two Economic Corridors and one Road Bridge – worth an aggregate of $1.2 billion to be in India


Shri Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs says India fully supports the SASEC OP as it will improve our economic linkages with East and Southeast Asia in accordance with India’s Act East policy



The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a total of nine projects costing $2.42 billion as part of the Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025 of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program. These projects will receive ADB financing of $1.43 billion. These nine projects represent a significant increase compared to the previous 15 years, when the annual average value of projects approved was only about $500 million.


The nine projects comprise of two rail projects in Bangladesh worth $890 million, two economic corridor initiatives (a project and program loan) and a bridge project in India worth an aggregate of $1.2 billion, trade facilitation and airport projects in Bhutan worth $27 million and key SASEC road and energy projects in Nepal worth $302 million. All these projects are aligned with the SASEC OP’s thrusts of developing road and rail links aligned closely with trade routes toward the east, streamlining trade procedures, and improving energy infrastructure.


The Indian corridor projects reflect the SASEC OP’s recent shift in emphasis on developing economic corridors within and between member countries. Shri Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Multilateral Institutions Division, Department of Economic Affairs stressed that India fully supports the SASEC OP as an important milestone in the SASEC program, especially as it will pursue the development of infrastructure to improve our economic linkages with East and Southeast Asia, in accordance with India’s Act East policy, thereby raising the competitiveness of the sub-region’s enterprises.


The SASEC OP has identified over 200 potential transport, trade facilitation and energy projects which will require over $120 billion in investments for the next five years, out of which 74 projects have been identified in India with an estimated project cost of over $60 billion. Majority of these projects are located in the Northeast or Eastern part of the country.


The SASEC OP, endorsed in June 2016 by the SASEC member countries, is SASEC’s first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries in the areas of transport, trade facilitation, energy, and economic corridor development. Bringing regional cooperation to a higher level, the SASEC OP plans to extend physical linkages not only within SASEC but also with East and Southeast Asia by the next decade.


Established in 2001, the SASEC program is a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries and strengthening regional economic cooperation. ADB is the secretariat and lead financier of the SASEC program, which to date has supported a total of 46 projects worth $9.17 billion in transport, trade facilitation, energy and information and communications technology (ICT).



*****

 

[Nilgiri]

Ministry of Finance
31-March, 2017 14:36 IST
South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Operational Plan (OP) 2016-25 includes nine projects worth $2.4 Billion


Three projects – two Economic Corridors and one Road Bridge – worth an aggregate of $1.2 billion to be in India


Shri Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs says India fully supports the SASEC OP as it will improve our economic linkages with East and Southeast Asia in accordance with India’s Act East policy



The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a total of nine projects costing $2.42 billion as part of the Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025 of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program. These projects will receive ADB financing of $1.43 billion. These nine projects represent a significant increase compared to the previous 15 years, when the annual average value of projects approved was only about $500 million.


The nine projects comprise of two rail projects in Bangladesh worth $890 million, two economic corridor initiatives (a project and program loan) and a bridge project in India worth an aggregate of $1.2 billion, trade facilitation and airport projects in Bhutan worth $27 million and key SASEC road and energy projects in Nepal worth $302 million. All these projects are aligned with the SASEC OP’s thrusts of developing road and rail links aligned closely with trade routes toward the east, streamlining trade procedures, and improving energy infrastructure.


The Indian corridor projects reflect the SASEC OP’s recent shift in emphasis on developing economic corridors within and between member countries. Shri Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Multilateral Institutions Division, Department of Economic Affairs stressed that India fully supports the SASEC OP as an important milestone in the SASEC program, especially as it will pursue the development of infrastructure to improve our economic linkages with East and Southeast Asia, in accordance with India’s Act East policy, thereby raising the competitiveness of the sub-region’s enterprises.


The SASEC OP has identified over 200 potential transport, trade facilitation and energy projects which will require over $120 billion in investments for the next five years, out of which 74 projects have been identified in India with an estimated project cost of over $60 billion. Majority of these projects are located in the Northeast or Eastern part of the country.


The SASEC OP, endorsed in June 2016 by the SASEC member countries, is SASEC’s first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries in the areas of transport, trade facilitation, energy, and economic corridor development. Bringing regional cooperation to a higher level, the SASEC OP plans to extend physical linkages not only within SASEC but also with East and Southeast Asia by the next decade.


Established in 2001, the SASEC program is a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries and strengthening regional economic cooperation. ADB is the secretariat and lead financier of the SASEC program, which to date has supported a total of 46 projects worth $9.17 billion in transport, trade facilitation, energy and information and communications technology (ICT).



*****

Thanks for the updates bro!

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
17-May, 2017 16:31 IST
Cabinet approves construction of electrified doubling line between Phephana-Indara and Mau-Shahganj in Uttar Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of double line with electrification between Phephana-Indara and Mau-Shahganj (excluding Indara-Mau) totaling 150 km approximately in Uttar Pradesh.

The respective length of the Phephana-Indara and Mau-Shahganj lines will be 50.53 km and 99.75 km. The estimated cost of the Project will be Rs.1028.95 crore with expected completion cost of Rs.1190.98 crore. The project is likely to be completed in next five years.

The doubling of these lines will remove the pressure over the congested North Central Railway route by providing an alternative route. Also, more number of goods/passenger trains could be run after doubling. It will lead to economic prosperity and development of the areas.

Background:

The areas served by this route are densely populated and there has been persistent unfulfilled demand of additional trains for the local and metropolitans cities. Shahganj-Mau-Phephna provides an important link between Amritsar-Moradabad-Lucknow-Mughalsarai-Patna section and Gorakhpur-Chhapra-Hajipur-Guwahati section. Thus doubling of this section will provide much needed relief toVaranasi-Mughalsarai and Makama-Barauni section which are highly congested.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Power
20-June, 2017 19:16 IST
Prime Minister Dedicates POWERGRID’s 400 kV Lucknow – Kanpur D/C Transmission Line with Associated Bays to the Nation.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated POWERGRID’s 400 Kilo Volt(kV) Lucknow – Kanpur Direct Current (D/C) Transmission Line with associated bays to the Nation in Lucknow today.

Constructed as a part of “Northern Region Strengthening Scheme-XXXII”, this transmission line will provide high quality transmission infrastructure for ensuring reliable and quality power supply in Uttar Pradesh especially in the areas like Lucknow, Panki, Unnao and Kanpur. The transmission line will also facilitate import of additional power to Uttar Pradesh from power surplus Eastern Region/ North Eastern Region.

On this occasion, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and other dignitaries, senior officials of state and central government along with Chairman & Managing Director, Director(Projects), Director(Personnel), Executive Director NR-III and other senior officials of POWERGRID were also present.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being welcomed by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik and the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, on his arrival, at Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being welcomed by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik and the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, on his arrival, at Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the new building of Abdul Kalam Technical University and dedicate to the Nation the 400 KV Lucknow-Kanpur D/C Transmission Line, at a function, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, the Deputy Chief Ministers, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya & Dr. Dinesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the new building of Abdul Kalam Technical University and dedicate to the Nation the 400 KV Lucknow-Kanpur D/C Transmission Line, at a function, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, the Deputy Chief Ministers, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya & Dr. Dinesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi distributing the Sanction Letters to the identified beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), Rural at a function, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017. The Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath and the Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi distributing the Sanction Letters to the identified beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), Rural at a function, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017. The Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath and the Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi distributing the Sanction Letters to the identified beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), Rural at a function, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017. The Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath and the Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the gathering at Abdul Kalam Technical University, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the gathering at Abdul Kalam Technical University, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 20, 2017. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath and the Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Dinesh Sharma are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/619161/aadhaar-not-valid-travel-nepal.html

Aadhaar is not a valid identification document for Indians travelling to Nepal and Bhutan, the Union home ministry has said.

Indians can travel to Nepal and Bhutan--both countries for which they don't need visas--if they possess a valid national passport or election ID card issued by the Election Commission. Moreover, to ease travel, persons over 65 and below 15 years can show documents with photographs to confirm their age and identity. These include PAN card, driving licence, Central Government Health Service (CGHS) card and ration card but not Aadhaar.

"Aadhaar (UID) card is not an acceptable travel document for travel to Nepal/Bhutan," a communique issued by the ministry said.

The advisory assumes significance as Aadhaar is mandatory for a host of things, including government subsidies on LPG and other social welfare schemes.

The Aadhaar card, which has a 12-digit unique identification number and personal details like name and address, acts as a proof of identification and residence.

Indians entering Bhutan by road are required to obtain an 'Entry Permit' on the basis of a valid travel document from the immigration office of Royal Government of Bhutan at Phuentsholing, located on the Indo-Bhutan border opposite Jaigaon, West Bengal.

The border with Nepal is an open one with people who enter the country needing to show any valid identity card.

Nepal shares borders with five Indian states--Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Around six lakh Indians are living or domiciled in Nepal.

Bhutan, which shares borders with Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal, has about 60,000 Indian nationals, employed mostly in the hydroelectric power and construction industry. In addition, between 8,000 and 10,000 daily workers enter and exit Bhutan everyday in border towns.

In another development, Indians flying abroad will not be required to fill departure cards from next month. However, those going out of the country via rail, seaport and land immigration checkposts will have to fill the embarkation card.

"It has been decided to discontinue the practice of filling up of the departure card by Indians at all international airports with effect from July 1, 2017," an order issued by the home ministry said. The move is aimed at ensuring hassle-free movement of Indians going abroad.

At present, those going abroad need to fill in details such as name, date of birth, passport number, address in India, flight number and date of boarding in the departure card.

The decision will help reducing the time required to complete immigration related formalities by passengers and also enable airports and authorities concerned to cater to a larger number of people.

The need for Indians to fill such cards on their arrival in India has already been done away with.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ndia-say-bhutan-officials/article19630701.ece

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay. A file photo. | Photo Credit: PTI

“Hydropower projects are critical for the Bhutanese economy, and are at the core of Bhutan’s plans for self-reliance.”
While the Doklam stand-off brought a spotlight on India-Bhutan ties, other issues like hydropower project construction needed greater focus, said senior Bhutanese experts and officials, flagging concerns during a two-day conference here that ended on Wednesday.

“Hydropower projects are critical for the Bhutanese economy, and are at the core of Bhutan’s plans for self-reliance ever since the first five-year plans in 1961,” explained Dasho Karma Ura, President of the Centre for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happinness (GNH) Research, told The Hindu at the India-Bhutan Dialogue that was attended by delegates from Bhutan and India. “It is necessary that the issues that have come up due to debt and delay are addressed at the earliest,” he added.

In particular, officials involved in the “Hydropower Committee” set up by the Bhutanese government in May this year spoke about the emerging challenges from the growing debt burden Bhutan carries due to delays in the major hydropower projects.

As of July 2017, Bhutan’s debt to India for the three major ongoing projects: Mangdechhu, Punatsangchhu 1 and 2 is approximately ₹12,300 crores which accounts for 77% of the country’s total debt, and is 87% of its GDP. While the cost of the 720 MW Mangdechhu project has nearly doubled in the past two years of construction, both Punatsangchhu 1 and 2, each of 1200 MW have trebled in cost and been delayed more than five years over the original completion schedule.

“What concerns us is that the partnership seems to be going backwards. A decade ago we shifted from doing one project at a time to doing many projects together, in order to reach the goal of 10,000MW in hydropower by 2020. Maybe we just weren’t ready and should rethink it,” a senior official from the Hydropower committee said.

Another issue, the officials added, was the fact that India is now a power-surplus country and the demand growth was slower than expected. The government’s push for other renewable energies like Wind and Solar power was also seen as an issue. Meanwhile, the interest repayment on projects that are being financed by India as 30% grant and 70% loan at 10% annual interest is piling up.

MEA sources told The Hindu that the government is looking at the proposals of the Bhutanese hydropower committee, but accepted that it would be difficult to meet many of them, given India’s own power sector needs to compete. Among the proposals sent from Thimphu were — to only undertake any new projects after the current projects being undertaken by NHPC are commissioned; to move from “run of the river” projects currently favoured to only a few major “reservoir” projects; and to undertake only those that come with Inter-governmental guarantees rather than joint ventures between Indian and Bhutanese entities.

“While the [Doklam situation] showed that government to government relations can be strengthened very quickly, it is important that hydropower, which is a key issue for the Bhutanese people also be looked at more quickly,” Mr. Ura said, adding that public opinion in Bhutan was beginning to question the viability of the debt incurred by the projects.

The India-Bhutan Dialogue also looked at environmental issues, illegal wildlife trade and cross-border drug smuggling and other areas of concern between the two countries which will mark 50 years in their official relationship in 2018.

 

[My-Analogous]

Bangladesh to receive 1,100 MW of power from India from January | Zee News
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 15:16

Agartala: Electricity-starved Bangladesh will begin receiving 100 MW of power from Tripura from early January. This will be in addition to the 500 MW it already receives from West Bengal and a like amount that is on the cards from the state - for a total of 1,100 MW - as the two countries enter a new phase of bilateral cooperation for regional benefit.


The power from Tripura will flow with the completion of 65 transmission towers in the northeastern state by December-end, a minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the power supply from Tripura with his Bangladesh counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, during his visit to Dhaka on June 6-7. Modi has declared that India would enhance the supply of power to Bangladesh from the existing 500 MW to 1,100 MW.

The union government-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) "has already completed 20 of the 65 transmission towers in southern and western Tripura. "The remaining 45 transmission towers and related works would be completed by December," Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey told IANS after holding meetings with PGCIL engineers and officials.

"I have asked the PGCIL authorities to expedite the works to fulfil our commitment given to Bangladesh about supplying 100 MW of power," he added.

The minister said PGCIL would erect around 20 km of transmission lines in Tripura, while the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) would lay 27 km of transmission line on its side.

Both the prime ministers welcomed the steps being taken to augment supply of power through Baharampur in West Bengal and Bheramara in Bangladesh, grid inter-connection from 500 MW to 1,000 MW and to operationalise the supply of 100 MW from southern Tripura's Palatana power plant to Bangladesh.

"Both prime ministers directed the concerned officials to complete the work in a time-bound manner. To enhance power grid connectivity as envisaged in the framework agreement, Modi agreed in principle to consider Bangladesh's proposal to allow import from India to Bangladesh additional power in a phased manner through construction of an additional grid interconnection on western side of Bangladesh," said the India-Bangladesh declaration in Modi's visit.

Tripura Power Minister Dey said that Indian and Bangladeshi officials, after a series of meetings, finalised the various technicalities and mechanisms to supply 100 MW of power from Tripura.

"While erecting new power transmission lines from (western Tripura's) Surjyamaninagar power grid to Comilla (in eastern Bangladesh) power grid to supply the power, human habitations, forests and other vital installations would be avoided," Dey added.

Officials and engineers of PGCIL, Central Electricity Authority, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), PGCB and Bangladesh Power Development Board are now in a close touch to complete the transmission lines between the two countries at the earliest.

MK Chowdhury, the TSECL's director (Technical), said the Indian government has submitted a proposal to send power from the northeast region to others parts of India via Bangladesh. "No formal decision has been taken so far in this regard," he added.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had earlier said that after the completion of two mega gas-based power projects, at least 200 MW of power would be surplus in Tripura.

The central government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has commissioned its biggest 726 MW commercial power project at Palatana, 60 km south of Agartala, while the state-run North East Electric Power Corporation is setting up a 104 MW project at Monarchak in western Tripura, 70 km south of Agartala, and only eight km from the India-Bangladesh border.

The Palatana project is a hallmark of the cooperation between India and Bangladesh, which ensured the smooth passage of heavy project equipment and turbines to Palatana through its territory by road and waterways from Haldia port in West Bengal.

India had begun supply of power to Bangladesh in 2013 after the government-run Bangladesh Power Development Board and India's NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN), a subsidiary of NTPC, signed a deal Feb 28, 2012, to supply electricity, following an agreement signed during Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January 2010.

IANS

ISI involvement

 

[Hindustani78]

Opposition parties had criticised the decision by former premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” to award the project to the Chinese firm in May, saying it went against Nepal’s interests.
world Updated: Nov 14, 2017 00:17 IST

Anil Giri
Hindustan Times, Kathmandu

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with former Nepal prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 27, 2017. (AFP)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...hinese-firm/story-V4KUxkWb9xg8qtfM26hePL.html


Nepal on Monday scrapped the award of a 1,200-MW hydropower project to a Chinese state-owned company, dealing a blow to Beijing’s ambitions to take on key infrastructure schemes in the country.

A meeting of the cabinet decided to scrap the agreement for the Budhi Gandaki hydropower project with Gezhouba Group on the directive of several parliamentary committees.

The move followed allegations of corruption, and deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa tweeted that the agreement was signed “recklessly and shadily”.

The move comes at a time when the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government is under pressure from China to move ahead with projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The cabinet also decided to give two Indian firms – GMR Energy and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam – developing 900-MW hydropower plants six more months for financial closure of the projects. The firms are facing several bottlenecks, such as compensation, land acquisition and forest clearance.

At one time, the Nepal government had considered including the Budhi Gandaki project, estimated to cost more than $2.5 billion, in the BRI.

There was widespread speculation in Kathmandu that Prime Minister Deuba took the bold step to signal to China that Nepal will not be pressured into developing projects under the BRI at a time when several communist parties have joined hands for the upcoming elections, reportedly with the backing of Beijing.

The former government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” awarded the contract for the Budhi Gandaki project during his last days in office without any competitive bidding. The decision attracted controversy from various quarters.

The decision was first opposed by former premier Baburam Bhattarai, whose hometown is in the Gorkha region where the project is located. Several political parties and Nepalese energy entrepreneurs too opposed the deal even though the government has distributed more than Rs 12 billion as compensation for land acquisition.

Gezhouba Group was awarded the contract to build the project on the “engineering procurement contract with financing (EPCF)” model, which was to be implemented for the first time in Nepal. The firm, which has been black-listed in Nepal, has also faced criticism for delays in other projects.

During their visits to Beijing, Prachanda and his predecessor KP Sharma Oli had sought Chinese investments for key projects.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
20-December, 2017 18:23 IST
Nuclear power plant in Bangladesh

Subsequent to signing of India-Bangladesh civil nuclear cooperation agreement on 08.04.2017, Department of Atomic Energy's Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) signed an inter-agency agreement for GCNEP to extend technical/consultancy and capacity building support to BAEC for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP) in Bangladesh being set up with Russian collaboration.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ntpc-supply-power-tariff-bangladesh-adani-5062347/

NTPC to supply 300 MW power to Bangladesh at Rs 3.42/unit
The company is expecting a revenue of Rs 900 crore every year for supplying 300 MW under a tender floated by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

By: PTI | New Delhi | Updated: February 13, 2018 4:27 pm

State-run power giant NTPC’s arm NVVN has emerged as the lowest bidder for supply of 300 MW power to Bangladesh for 15 years at an estimated tariff of Rs 3.42 per unit. The company is expecting a revenue of Rs 900 crore every year for supplying 300 MW under a tender floated by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), a source said.

Rough calculations estimate that the company would supply power at Rs 3.42 per unit to Bangladesh under this tender, reports PTI. “NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, emerged as successful bidder (L1), both in short term and long term for 300 MW power,” the company said in a statement.

Financial bid was opened on February 11, it said. The company, however, did not disclose the tariff it quoted to emerge as L-1 bidder under the tender floated by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). According to company estimates, its average tariff for the nine-month period from April till December for this fiscal was Rs 3.26 per unit.

The BPDB had invited tenders for supply of 500 MW power from India for short term (June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019) and long term (January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2033). NVVN, Adani Group, PTC and Singapore-bases Sembcorp submitted bids by the scheduled date of January 11. NTPC said supply of electricity is likely to commence from June 2018 after commissioning of 500 MW HVDC inter-connection project between India and Bangladesh.

At present, India exports approximately 600 MW electricity to Bangladesh.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Power
13-February, 2018 16:55 IST
Shri R.K. Singh inaugurates ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’ - International Conference on Operations and Maintenance

Power Minister exhorts NTPC to become India’s power sector multinational, set up plants overseas Plans to send teams to neighbouring countries to assess power demand, explore export opportunities

Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh inaugurated the ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’ - three-day International Conference on Operations and Maintenance, here today. The Minister exhorted the NTPC to become India’s power sector multinational by setting up power plants in other Nations and become world’s largest power producer. Shri Singh also added that there was huge opportunity to export cheap power to neighbouring countries which will be beneficial for the entire region.

The Minister said that neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh are viable markets for export of power, where per unit cost of electricity is very high. He added that Ministry of Power would explore the idea of sending teams to these countries to assess the demand for export of power.

Talking about achieving Government’s aim of ‘24x7 Power for All’ Shri Singh said, “If you look at the entire power sector, the demand has been suppressed because not everyone is connected. We have just started taking-off and going to enter double digit growth. What we see as excess capacity today may not turn out to be enough if we unlock that demand. The unlocking of demand will come but with some constraints. We don’t have a shortage of coal but we need to put in place mechanisms to get coal from underground to over ground and to the power stations and we need to do that as soon as possible”.

Further, the Minister added that when all power plants in the country would run at 70-80 per cent of PLF, there would be no stressed assets. The problem of stressed assets is there because first, the power plants are not able to get adequate coal and secondly, demand needs to be unlocked.

Sharing his views on the status of renewable energy in the country, Shri Singh said that the progressive realization of low prices of renewable energy is sending wrong signals to the market. The Minister said, “The consumers and institutional companies need to understand that this cheap renewable power by itself is not sufficient and need rebalancing with support of steady power. This message we need to get across to the people and to DISCOMs”.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Secretary Power, along with other senior officers of the Ministry and NTPC.



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[Hindustani78]

The Awami League General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport, Bangladesh, Mr. Obaidul Quader calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 23, 2018.

The Awami League General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport, Bangladesh, Mr. Obaidul Quader calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 23, 2018.

The Awami League General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport, Bangladesh, Mr. Obaidul Quader calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 23, 2018.