Bangladesh looks to increase power import from India

Bangladesh is planning a major expansion of its electricity imports from India, with the neighbouring country aiming to eventually source up to 10,000 MW of power from India, a senior Bangladeshi official said on Friday.

Bangladesh currently imports around 700 MW of electricity from India and is preparing to add another 500 MW in the near future. Md Abdul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals at the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, said the required 400 kVA grid transmission line for the additional supply had already been completed.

“We are currently importing around 700 MW of power from India and import of about 500 MW of additional power will be commenced very soon,” Azad said on the sidelines of the CII Energy Conclave in Kolkata.

He added that Bangladesh had also signed an agreement with an Indian company to import between 600 MW and 800 MW through a dedicated transmission line. Several other Indian power generation companies have reportedly submitted proposals to establish transmission infrastructure for supplying electricity to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s long-term target of importing 10,000 MW from India highlights the growing importance of cross-border energy cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Azad said India and Bangladesh were working together not only on electricity transmission and supply but also on strengthening the infrastructure and expertise required to support the power sector.

“Power sector cooperation between the two countries is not limited to transmission and supply only,” he said, adding that India was also helping Bangladesh build its human resources and technical capabilities in power generation, transmission and distribution.

Bangladesh has significantly expanded its power-generation capacity over the past decade. According to Azad, the country’s power capacity has increased fivefold in the last 10 years, with India also providing support for human resource development.

The expanding electricity partnership is significant for both countries as Bangladesh seeks to meet rising energy demand while India gains a larger role in the neighbouring country’s evolving power market. Greater grid connectivity could also strengthen regional energy cooperation and improve the reliability of electricity supplies.

With additional transmission infrastructure already being developed and new supply agreements being pursued, the two countries are moving towards a deeper and more integrated regional power partnership.