Process to import 500mw hydropower from Nepal at final stage: Nasrul

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said the process remains at almost the final stage to import 500-megawatt hydropower electric power from Nepal.

"We want to import more hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan. The matter to import electricity from the Indian power market also remains in active consideration. The World Bank can work in this regard to enhance the efficiency of the officials," he said on Tuesday.

He was addressing a bilateral meeting between the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and a delegation of the World Bank at the ministry's conference room at the Secretariat.

Nasrul Hamid led a seven-member delegation of the Power Division and Energy and Mineral Resources Division while World Bank (WB) Regional Vice-President for South Asia Martin Raiser led an eight-member delegation of the WB.

Issues relating to cross-border trade, regional power pool, South Asian regional power market, import of electricity from Nepal and Bhutan and e-mobility were discussed in the meeting.

Existing and future projects of the power sector were also highlighted.

The state minister said 2,000 mw of electricity will be generated from renewable sources within two years next.

Another 6,000 mg of electricity generation from renewable sources within 5-6 years is in the pipeline, he mentioned.

Bangladesh has cancelled plans to build 10 coal-based power plants involving 12 billion dollars of foreign investment but such an amount of investment is not coming in the renewable energy sector, he said.

Nasrul Hamid said Power Division is working enthusiastically for the expansion of electric vehicles.

Noting that electric vehicle (EV) guideline or policy has already been prepared, he said around 4 million easy-bikes (battery-run three-wheelers) are operating in Bangladesh now.

Lithium batteries should be used here instead of lead batteries, he suggested.

The state minister said the Power Division is also working to transfer transmission power lines in the private sector.

Energy and Mineral Resources Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Power Division Additional Secretary Nurul Alam, WB Country Director Abdoulaye Seck, its Operation Manager Dandan Chen and Operation Adviser Gayle Martin were present in the meeting, among others.

/KN/