China has proposed to introduce an 'electrification system' in
Bangladesh on the country's rail networks to allow for a faster, easier
and efficient transport service and boost capacity.
"As a fast developing country, Bangladesh should immediately start
electrification of its railway lines so that the transportation capacity
can be increased dramatically in the future," said Hu Weidong, vice
president of state-owned Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC).
Speaking to visiting journalists from Bangladesh and Nepal at the DEC
headquarters, he said he already pitched the idea to Md Amzad Hossain,
director general of Bangladesh Railway, while on a visit to Bangladesh
last week.
A railway electrification system supplies power to trains or trams
without an on-board prime mover or local fuel supply. Electrifying key
routes on the railway will mean faster, greener, quieter and more
reliable journeys for thousands of passengers.
"We are interested because we specialise in electrification of
railways," said the top executive of a leading company specialising in
power equipment manufacturing and worldwide power projects.
Headquartered in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, DEC is one
of the largest backbone enterprise groups of the Chinese central
government. Founded in 1958, DEC already installed the Rawjan Thermal
Power Project in Chittagong.
DEC has been enlisted among the top global contractors evaluated by
the Engineering News-Record, a US-based weekly magazine that provides
news, analysis, data and opinion for the construction industry worldwide
since 1994, Weidong said.
Weidong hopes that Bangladesh will consider China for construction of
its second nuclear power plant, especially as China believes that the
electricity demand of Bangladesh will increase dramatically in the
coming years.
"For a country's development, the first thing is power and
infrastructure. That has been China's experience in the last three
decades."
During a recent discussion with Bangladesh officials, he found that
the nation has an installed capacity of around 14,000MW at present. This
capacity cannot fully meet the electricity demand of fast growing
Bangladesh, as demonstrated by the purchase of power from neighbouring
India, he said. "That means you have a big shortage of electricity
supply, for which I hope DEC and Bangladesh can work together."
Moreover, some Chinese textiles are shifting their production
facilities to Bangladesh, which will further increase the demand for
power, he said.
"Therefore, I think the demand for power [in Bangladesh] will
increase dramatically. On the other hand, DEC has a manufacturing
capacity of up to 42,000MW. So we have a lot of room for cooperation."
European countries like Britain are using Chinese technology in
nuclear power plants, so the issue of safety is moot, he said. China and
Britain signed a deal to build a nuclear power station with a capacity
of over 1,000MW in the UK a couple of days ago, during Chinese President
Xi Jinping's first state visit to London, he added.
"So our standards are being recognised by developed countries, like the United Kingdom."
Regarding the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, the top
executive said Russian technology is good, but Bangladesh will surely
make a comparison in taking any future decision.
DEC top officials also discussed their past, current and future
projects in various countries, including Bangladesh. Jin Wei, deputy
general manager (plant and project) and other officials of DEC were also
present.
