Sayeed Muhammad: Spe-akers told seminar that lack of harmonisation in the pricing formula is a major barrier in developing the regional energy and power trade.
They were of the opinion that all the nations in the regional initiative should harmonise their pricing formula.
“I think harmonisation in pricing of power and energy has been very essential to promote the regional trade,” said ASMAlamgir Kabir, former chairman of Power Development Board (PDB).
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
Ministry organised the seminar on “Future prospects of regional connectivity”at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka, marking the three-day Power and Energy Week that began on Thursday.
Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun ‘Ananta’ said his country is ready for regional power and energy trade.
“We have already created enabling environment through enacting law and infrastructure. We have entered deal with Bangladesh to export electricity,” he added.
Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on Power and Energy Ministry Tajul Islam, Asian Development Board (ADB) country director Monmohan Prakash and Dr. Hans-Paul Burkner, Chairman, of Briton Consulting Group, also addressed the seminar.
Syed Munir Khosru, chairman of think tank body IPAG, moderated the seminar where Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus presented the keynote paper.
Tajul said Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina has been continuously trying to promote regional trade, adding: “Bangladesh is very keen to move forward with the regional power and energy trade.”
Dr Kaikaus said Bangladesh so far signed agreements with India and Nepal and getting ready to sign agreement with Bhutan to import electricity.
He, however, pointed out that all the deals are made on bilateral basis. “But this will pave the way for multilateral deals,” he said.
According to Monmohan Prakash, multilateral power trading is a complex issue although ADB has been continuing its effort to promote such trade.