PM seeks more Japanese investment in power sector

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought more Japanese investment in Bangladesh's power and energy sector to meet the growing demand.

"The demand for electricity is growing owing to the increasing population and development work in the country. Hence, we need more investment in the sector," she said.

The premier made the remarks when Satoshi Onoda, the president of JERA Co. Inc, the largest electricity producing firm in Japan, paid a courtesy call at her office in Dhaka this afternoon.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters following the call.

The premier appreciated Japanese companies including JERA for investing in Bangladesh's power sector.

The JERA president informed the prime minister that the company is now generating 60,000 MW of electricity in Japan which is 50 percent of the country's total demand.

Satoshi Onoda also told the PM that they are setting up a 718-MW power plant at Meghnaghat in a joint venture with Reliance Bangladesh Power and LNG Company.

"The power plant will go into operation by 2022," he said.

He added that they have already set up 335-MW power plant in a joint venture with Summit Power Ltd of Bangladesh and would like to expand.

The Summit-JERA-Mitsubishi Consortium has also submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to the government for setting up an LNG terminal in Matarbari, Cox's Bazar.

PM's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Mian, the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh ITO Naoki and Summit Power Chairman Muhammed Aziz Khan were present on the occasion.