The government is set to import 250MW of electricity from India’s open market through tender on long-term basis, for 15 years.
The existing three-year contract with the Power Trading Corporation India Limited (PTC) to import same amount electricity expires in July next year. The government has already invited tender from Indian companies so that the supply remains uninterrupted.
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN) has been exporting another 250MW of electricity to Bangladesh since October 2013.
Meanwhile, the cabinet committee on public purchase on Thursday approved a proposal allowing the PDB to import 30-50MW power from India’s open market for one year through a trading agent. It could be added to the national grid as early as this year.
“We intend to select a potential gas- or coal-based power plant owner or supplier or trader in India for the supply of 250MW electricity for 15 years at 400kV level to Baharampur substation, Murshidabad of India,” Chairman of Power Development Board Shahinul Islam Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“The sponsor will be selected through a competitive bidding process limited to Indian bidders after scrutinising their technical and commercial proposals and tariff proposals submitted against the request for proposal. The selected sponsor will be required to execute the power purchase agreement with the PDB,” he said.
The last date of submission of tender is February 26.
A PDB official said the selected sponsor would have to supply power up to Baharampur substation at 400 kV level (delivery point), which will be transferred to Bheramara grid substation in Kushtia of Bangladesh by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited.
The PTC supplies electricity from the NTPC power plants in West Bengal and eastern region.
