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Donors’ meet begins in city tomorrow

Dhaka to seek assistance for 40 energy sector projects
Bangladesh will seek Iinan cial and technical assistance for as many as 40 energy sector projects from the major donors in a meeting that begins in Dhaka tomorrow.
Talking to UNB at his Secre tariat office yesterday. Energy Minister Mohammad Noor Ud din Khan said the government side would place 40 projects in the energy sector for the consideration of the donors.
Over half a dozen projects are new while the rest are ongoing. he said, adding that Dhaka would not seek any specific amount, rather leave it to the donor agencies and countries
The four-day meeting, to be sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). is likely to adopt guidelines and strategies for future lending to Bangladesh s fund-starved energy sector
Apart from ADB. representatives of the World Bank. Germany. United Kindom. Japan and Norway who have given loans to the country's energy
sector will attend the high-profile meet
"The meeting will help the donors reach a fresh understanding with the country's energy sector after a four-year suspension on lending by the development partners," Khan said.
The energy minister will attend the opening session of the meet and is expected to present an overview of the energy sector. its prospects and future requirement of financial and technical supports
The donors will meet the officials of the energy ministry and the Petrobangla and hold discussions among themselves, review the performances of the on going projects and draw a strategy for future lending
After a four-year gap. the donors are going to resume their lendings to Bangladesh's energy sector and the minister said funds from the donors became an imperative need due to resource constraints.
"We hope that they will not only resume their lendings, but
also lend more for the country’s energy sector." he said and informed that the government is trying to make Operative all the loans which were suspended during the BNP regime
For the projects to be placed in the meeting, the donors themselves would estimate the fund requirements and the government would later fix the amount after negotiation.
The energy minister said the fresh projects include Saida Nadi exploration project, Kailashtila project and the Marichakandi well exploration project
Additional funds and duration of the 16 Town Power De velopment Programme, the 18 Town Power Development Programme and the 9th Power Development Project will be sought in the meeting
Funds would also be sought for power transmission and distribution lines, repairing of power plants and stations, procurement of modern equip ment. centralised control sys
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tern for power transmission, well exploration and lying gas pipelines, Khan said.
Asked about the reasons for resumption of lending by the donors, he said they were now satisfied that the government could take bold decisions to address the problems in the power sector and make it efficient.
Besides, he said, formulation of private-sector power-generation policy, model production-sharing contract in the gas sector and creation of an Investment-friendly environment in the sector prompted them to resume lendings.
"In fact, the reform initiatives In the sector stimulated the donors to respond positively to the energy sector," he