In talks with neighbours to import power: Hasina

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 17:16, Sep 11, 2019 | Updated : 17:20, Sep 11, 2019

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses a post-budget press conference at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Dhaka on Friday (Jun 14). FOCUS BANGLAPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh is now in talks with its neighbouring countries to import electricity to meet its growing demand.
“Talks are on with India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal to import hydropower to meet our demands, we have taken that initiative,” news agency UNB quoted Hasina as saying.
Hasina said Bangladesh has already imported 600mw electricity from neighbouring India. “We are thinking of investing in Bhutan, the negotiations towards that are ongoing, and we are also planning to invest in Nepal,” she added.
Her remarks came at the inauguration of multiple power projects across Bangladesh through a video conference at her official residence Gonobhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday (Sept 11).
The Prime Minister inaugurated four power plants that added 435.4 megawatts (MWs) of electricity to the country’s national grid and opened eight 33/11 KV GIS substations, state news agency BSS reports.
The four power plants are – Baghabari, Sirajganj 200 MW Power Plant by Paramount BTrac Energy Ltd, Jamalpur 115MW Power Plant by United Jamalpur Power Ltd, Bogura 113 MW Power Plant by Confidence Power Bogura-2 Ltd, and Kaptai, Rangamati 7.4 MWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) by Grid-Connected Power Generation Plant at Kaptai.
The eight substations are – Godnail, Mandalpara, Dapa of Fatullah, and Nandalalpur of Fatullah in Narayanganj and Shahjahanpur, Mugdapara, Banosree of Rampura and Zahir Raihan Road of Shahbagh in Dhaka.
At the function, Hasina, who the in-charge of power, energy and mineral resources ministry, also launched cent percent electrification in 10 upazilas of the country.
The 10 upazilas which came under cent percent power coverage are – Goraghat in Dinajpur, Matlab Dakkhin in Chandpura and Sadar, Pachbibi and Akkelpur in Joypurhat, Paba in Rajshahi, Sadar and Rupganj in Narayanganj, Haripur in Thakurgaon and Companiganj in Noakhali.
According to officials of the power ministry, a total of 340 upazilas in the country have so far been brought under cent percent electricity coverage.
As many as 93 percent people have been brought under electricity coverage as the country achieved the capability of producing over 22000mw electricity.
The prime minister later exchanged views with the people of the concerned districts.

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