Bangladesh has urged China Exim Bank to expedite financing for key power sector projects, including the expansion of the Payra Thermal Power Plant and upgrades to the national grid, as the two sides seek to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
China Exim Bank President Wang Chunying met Bangladesh’s Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood at the Secretariat on Thursday to discuss financing and cooperation in the power sector, according to a ministry statement.
The discussions covered financing for the Payra Thermal Power Plant Project, the Power Grid Network Strengthening Project under the government-to-government (G2G) framework, and the expansion and strengthening of the power network in the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) area.
The two sides also discussed potential financing for future power sector projects.
Mahmood said stable power and energy supply was essential for national development and economic growth. He urged the bank to accelerate financing for the expansion of the Payra plant, the development of smart grids and control systems, and upgrades to the DPDC network.
Referring to Bangladesh’s transition towards clean energy under the Renewable Energy Policy 2026, the minister called for faster financing for future projects, particularly those aimed at modernising national grid control systems, expanding Payra in subsequent phases, and strengthening DPDC’s power network.
He also invited Wang to visit project sites in Bangladesh financed by the bank.
Wang reaffirmed China Exim Bank’s continued support for Bangladesh’s infrastructure development and welcomed recent tariff and duty reductions by the National Board of Revenue to encourage investment in green energy, the statement said.
She expressed interest in financing and providing technical expertise for renewable energy projects, including ground-mounted and floating solar power, wind energy, and waste-to-energy initiatives.
Both sides agreed to accelerate institutional responses to expedite financing clearances for the G2G power grid strengthening and DPDC network expansion projects, according to the statement.
Ashik Chowdhury, chairman of Invest Bangladesh; Mirana Mahrukh, secretary of the Power Division; Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board; and senior Power Division officials attended the meeting.
