In a first, India, Nepal, Bangladesh launch power transmission

India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have today carried out the first power transmission from Nepal to Bangladesh through India's existing power grid.

Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, jointly inaugurated the flow from Nepal to Bangladesh, with Mohd Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser, Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Government of Bangladesh, and  Dipak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Government of Nepal.

The Nepalese Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation hosted the virtual event.

“The first trilateral power transaction has been carried out through the Indian grid,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

India had announced its decision to facilitate the first trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh through their grid with an export of up to 40 MW of power during the visit of the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in June last year.

During the visit, both sides had expressed their commitment towards greater sub-regional cooperation, including in the energy sector, which would lead to increased inter-linkages between the economies for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.

A tripartite power sales agreement was signed in October this year between the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, Nepal Electricity Authority, and Bangladesh Power Development Board.