KATHMANDU: The high-level joint mechanism meeting between Nepal and Bangladesh regarding energy trade and investment has been postponed. Originally scheduled to be held in Pokhara on June 23 and 24, the meeting was postponed after the Bangladesh government requested for rescheduling it.

There are two joint mechanisms between the two countries: a Joint Secretary-level Joint Working Group (JWG) and a Secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) under the Ministry of Energy. This year's meeting, which was to be held in Nepal, follows last year's meeting in Bangladesh.

Navin Singh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, said, "The date had to be postponed after the Bangladesh energy secretary-level team indicated a potential delay. We are awaiting formal confirmation from Bangladesh, but we expect the meeting to take place by early July."

Government officials in Nepal have indicated that the meeting aims to finalize an agreement for the sale of 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh. Additionally, discussions are expected on a joint venture agreement for the construction of the Sunkoshi III hydropower project, which has a capacity of 683 megawatts.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh's procurement committee, chaired by Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, decided to purchase 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal for a period of 5 years. The purchase price is set at 8.17 Bangladeshi taka (equivalent to Rs 9.30) per unit, as reported by Bangladeshi media. However, the transmission line fee through India has yet to be determined.

Following the Nepal-Bangladesh meeting, a tripartite agreement between Nepal, Bangladesh, and India will be necessary to export electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through India's transmission lines. India has already given approval for this tripartite agreement.

The Sunkoshi III project, which will be located on the Sunkoshi River in the border area of Ramechhap and Kavrepalanchok districts, has been a topic of discussion for joint investment by both countries.

During last year’s meeting in Pataukhali, Bangladesh, the two countries had agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the Bangladesh Power Development Board for the Sunkoshi III project within 6 months. Although the MoU was not signed within the agreed timeframe, government officials from both countries are working to finalize it. Both Nepal and Bangladesh are interested in involving Indian companies in the joint venture.

The meeting was postponed amid ongoing efforts by Nepal and Bangladesh to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation and infrastructure development.