India, Nepal, and Bangladesh Sign Historic Electricity Export Agreement
On October 3, a significant agreement was signed in Kathmandu, Nepal, involving India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This trilateral agreement allows Nepal to export 40 Megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh using India’s power grid. This marks the first time Nepal will sell electricity to a third country, having previously only exported to India.
Key Figures and Signatories
The agreement was signed by Kulman Ghising, executive director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Renu Narang, CEO of India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, and Mohammad Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board. The signing was witnessed by Nepal’s Energy Minister Deepak Khadka, Minister of State for Energy Purna Bahadur Tamang, and Bangladeshi Minister Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
Statements from Officials
Nepal’s Energy Minister Deepak Khadka highlighted the persistent efforts since 2018 that led to this achievement. Bangladeshi Minister Hasan emphasized the importance of this event for regional cooperation and energy security. Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava expressed confidence that the agreement would boost power sector cooperation and attract investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector.
Details of the Agreement
Under the agreement, Bangladesh will import 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal, transmitted through India’s infrastructure. Nepal is expected to sell 144,000 MWh of electricity from mid-June to mid-November, earning around Rs330 million. The energy will be transmitted via the 400KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border line.
Future Plans
A meeting between Nepal and Bangladesh also agreed to develop the Sunkoshi-3 hydropower project collaboratively. They plan to finalize a joint venture agreement and conduct feasibility studies for a cross-border transmission line.
Doubts Revealed
Megawatts -: A megawatt is a unit of power. It is used to measure how much electricity is being produced or used. One megawatt is equal to one million watts.
Power grid -: A power grid is a network of wires and equipment that delivers electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. It helps in distributing electricity over long distances.
Hydropower -: Hydropower is a way of generating electricity using the energy of flowing water. It is a renewable source of energy, which means it can be used again and again without running out.
Sunkoshi-3 -: Sunkoshi-3 is a planned hydropower project in Nepal. It will use the water from the Sunkoshi River to generate electricity. This project is part of Nepal’s efforts to increase its electricity production.