India, Bangladesh sign deal for construction of coal fired power plant

Bangladesh and India have signed a landmark deal for the construction of a 1,320 megawatt coal fired power plant, the biggest project under bilateral cooperation that would mark the transition from electricity export to generation level.

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), the joint venture enterprise inked the deal with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). BHEL was selected under an open international tender for constructing the super thermal plant at Bangladesh's southwestern Rampal near the Sundarbans.

India's Exim Bank will provide 1.49 billion US dollars for the project, scheduled to start generating power in 2019.

AIR correspondent reports that the Miatree Super Thermal Power Project marks an important milestone in the power co-operation between the two countries, marking the transition from power export to power generation. Talking on the occasion Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Sringla said the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project is the harbinger of the transformation of Bangladesh's power generation from a gas-based to coal-based one. He said it will enable Bangladesh to come closer to its goal of ensuring power for all by 2021 when the country celebrates its 50th birth anniversary. The combined experience of BHEL and NTPC will ensure that the best technology and international environmental norms are adopted so as to make the project as environmentally friendly as possible.