DHAKA: Indian Power Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia on Thursday said India is set export electricity to Bangladesh under a power-transmission project starting October 5, 2013.

The 25-year deal between NTPC 532555.BY +0.47% Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, the power-trading arm of India’s state-run NTPC Ltd, and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) involves providing 250 megawatts of coal-fired electricity from India’s eastern grid to Western Bangladesh.

The final testing of the project is under way.

The transmission of electricity by India is being seen as a diplomatic move to help Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces elections next January.

The India-Bangladesh agreement could also be a precursor to a South Asia electricity grid that would link India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan by 2020, according to experts.

Source: wsj.com

BDST: 1845 HRS, SEP 26, 2013
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