Lok Sabha Question No. 2004 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-10
Subject: Bilateral Energy Cooperation with SAARC
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2004 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2015

## BILATERAL ENERGY COOPERATION WITH SAARC

2004.  SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE: SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  of  the  SAARC  Nations  with  whom  India  have  bilateral  energy cooperation along with terms of agreement;

(b) whether there is any proposal to enter into any agreement regarding power with SAARC Nations;

- (c) if so, whether any plan/strategy has been finalized in this regard;

(d) if so, the details in this regard; and

(e) the  Nations  with  whom  similar  cooperation  is  under  consideration  and  the time by which the same is likely to be finalised?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) : The details are at Annex.

(b) to (e) : At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  enter  into  an  agreement  with  any other  SAARC  Nations.  However,  a  draft  Memorandum  of  Understanding  between Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on cooperation in the bilateral electricity trade was shared with Pakistan in 2014 through Ministry of External Affairs. The response of Pakistan is still awaited.

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## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2004 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 10.12.2015.

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The details  of    the  SAARC  Nations  with  whom  India  have  bilateral  energy cooperation along with terms of agreement

Bangladesh An MoU was signed between the People's Republic of Bangladesh  (GoB)  and  the  Government  of  India  (GoI)  on  11th  January  2010  on cooperation in power generation, transmission, energy efficiency and development of various types of renewable energy.  In October, 2013, a cross border interconnection was established between India and Bangladesh.  Presently, Bangladesh is importing 500 MW electricity from India through interconnection.

Further, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) signed an MoU for cooperation  in  power  sector  with  Bangladesh  Power  Development  Board  (BPDP). Under this MoU, the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Pvt. Ltd. (BIFPCL), a  50:50  Joint  Venture  between  NTPC  and  BPDP  has  been  incorporated  in  Dhaka, Bangladesh  for  developing  a  1320  (2x660)  MW  power  project  at  Rampal,  District Bagerhat in Khulna division.

Bhutan India  and  Bhutan  signed  an  agreement  on  cooperation  in  the  field  of hydropower in July 2006.  Government of India has constructed three Hydro Electric Projects  (HEPs)  viz.  Chukha,  Kurichhu  and  Tala  in  Bhutan,  with  total  installed capacity  of  1416  MW  that  are  supplying  electricity  to  India  under  their  respective bilateral agreements.  Three projects totalling 2940 MW (1200 MW Punatsangchu-I, 1020  MW  Punatsangchu-II  and  720  MW  Mangdechu  HEPs)  are  currently  under construction.  Another four HEPs totalling  2120 MW (600 MW Kholongchhu, 180 MW Bunakha,  570  MW  Wangchu  and  770  MW  Chamkarchu)  have  been  identified  for construction under the Joint Venture mode.

Nepal  India  and  Nepal  have  a  Power  Exchange  Agreement  since  1971  for meeting  power  requirements  of  the  two  countries.  132  KV,  33  KV  and  11KV transmission interconnections are used for power trade.

- A bilateral Agreement on 'Electric Power Trade, Cross-Border Transmission  Interconnection  and  Grid  Connectivity"  was  signed  on  21st  October, 2014 in Kathmandu.

Project Development Agreements for the 900 MW Upper Karnali HEP by M/s GMR and the 900 MW Arun-III HEP by M/s SJVN were signed in September and November 2014 respectively.  The  Pancheshwar  Development  Authority  for  the  5600  MW  multipurpose project was constituted in August 2014.

Sri Lanka An  MoU  was  signed  among  Government  of  India,  Government  of  Sri Lanka,  PGCIL  and  the  Ceylon  Electricity  Board  (CEB)  on  9.6.2010  for  carrying  out feasibility  study  for  interconnection  of  India-Sri  Lanka  Electricity  Grids.  PGCIL  and CEB, Sri Lanka were appointed as executing agencies for the above project.

The feasibility study was carried out and a report for 360 km long 2x500 MW  HVDC  bipole  line,  including  120km  long  submarine  cable,  between  Madurai (India)  and  New  Anuradhapura  (Sri  Lanka)  was  prepared.  Subsequently,  another study was also carried out for an alternative route to reduce the length of submarine cable  thereby  reducing  the  overall  project  cost  of  the  interconnection.  However, Government of Tamil Nadu had expressed reservations about this project. Further, a Joint Venture Agreement has been signed between NTPC and Ceylon  Electricity  Board(CEB)  on  6th  September  2011,  and  a  JV  Company  by  the name  "Trincomalee  Power  Company  Limited(TPCL)"  has  been  incorporated  in Colombo, for setting up a 2x250 MW coal based power project near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka with 50:50 equity investments by the promoters.

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