DHAKA, Feb 25, 2020 (BSS) – Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) today launched an energy
conference in Bangladesh capital seeking effective ways for integrated power
management among regional nations through enhanced cooperation.
“The BIMSTEC is working on connecting an about 3,000 kilometre-long power
grid from Myanmar-Thailand to India,” Bangladesh premier’s energy affairs
advisor Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury said opening the event.
He added: “(The proposed) grid connectivity among the (BIMSTEC) nations
could ensure capacity or load factor utilisation through complementing each
other on the basis of the member countries’ energy demand and supply status”.
The connectivity will also enhance the efficiency of the energy by
reducing the electricity cost for the consumers and ensure uninterrupted
quality electricity supply for industrial and commercial sectors maintaining
stability in the power sector.
Talking to newsmen later on the sidelines of the conference, he said two
of the BIMSTEC members Nepal and Bhutan have high hydropower potentials, but
the countries face with power deficiency during the lean seasons.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh could supply power to the two countries during
the time of their need and in exchange import their hydropower during the
monsoon.
He, however, said fluctuation of Bangladesh’s existing power transmission
and distribution network currently appeared to be barrier for electricity
swapping with other countries but “we are trying to improve the transmission
and distribution network”.
Besides, the journey towards building regional energy integration, will
help to build an integrated system and economic zone in this region reducing
the inter-conflict among the member state of the organization, Chowdhury
said, adding when the countries are inter depended on each other, the
conflict is reduced in a great extend.
Noting that no political issue is permanent, but temporary, he said, “We
want that Myanmar should resolve the Rohingya crisis. I believe, once the
disputes between Bangladesh and Myanmar are settled, we could take the power
grid connectivity to Thailand from Myanmar”.
BIMSTEC Secretary General M Shahidul Islam delivered the welcome address in
the inaugural function while Mission Director of USAID, Bangladesh, Derrick S
Brown spoke, among others.
Project Director of the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy
Integration (SARI/EI) Pankaj Batra gave vote of thanks.