KATHMANDU: Bangladesh has agreed to purchase additional 20 MW electricity from Nepal.

The seventh meeting of the Energy Secretary Level Nepal-Bangladesh Joint Steering Committee on Energy held on Thursday has agreed to complete necessary process to export 20 MW electricity in addition to the existing 40 MW.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Sandeep Kumar Dev informed that an agreement was reached to export additional energy from Nepal after making necessary technical preparations.

In the steering committee meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Energy Secretary Chiranjibi Chataut participated on behalf of Nepal while Secretary at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Farzana Mamtaz participated from Bangladesh side.

The meeting discussed the recommendations made by the joint action committee meeting held on November 26 (Wednesday).

Spokesperson Dev shared that various six agendas were discussed in the steering committee meeting.

The meeting agreed that each side would complete its process and sign the memorandum of understanding on promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

As part of the agreement, Bangladesh would provide technical assistance to Nepal in areas such as energy testing, electric vehicle charging stations and rooftop solar.

Likewise, capacity building programmes between the two countries would also be advanced.

It may be noted that the secretary-level mechanism (steering committee) has been working for the expansion of energy sector and power trade, as well as exchanging experience of development taking place in the sector.