NTPC-DVC combine gets Centre's nod to export power to B'desh

Kolkata: The Centre has allowed the government-owned NTPC-Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) combine to export 300 megawatt (MW) power each to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had requested the Centre for the supply of 500 MW power at the interconnection point. The DVC has tied up with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar nigam to put forth a bid for supply of 300 MW power each, under both long-term and short-term arrangement.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Ministry of Power, has given the approval despite objections from private power producers.

It may be mentioned here that the Power Trading Corporation-West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company combine was second in the tender for short-term power supply. Bengal government has been exporting power to Bangladesh for some time.

State Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay has recently announced that the Bengal government will soon export 1,000 MW power to Bangladesh per day, for which the state Power department has already written to the Centre, seeking its permission in this regard. The Bengal government had initially started exporting 500 MW power to Bangladesh and now, the department is ready to increase the power supply to 1,000 MW.