Yunus calls for South Asia grid to tap Nepal and Bhutan's hydropower potential

The hydroelectric potential of the Himalayan nations remains largely untapped due to the absence of a regional electricity grid connecting them to Bangladesh and India, he says

Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government, has called for the establishment of a South Asia grid to harness and share hydroelectric power generated by Nepal and Bhutan.

During a meeting with the Social Business Group on the sidelines of the COP29 climate conference in Baku on Wednesday, Yunus emphasised that the hydroelectric potential of the Himalayan nations remains largely untapped due to the absence of a regional electricity grid connecting Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Nepalese officials have estimated that their country could generate up to 40,000 MW of hydroelectric power, which could help reduce the dependency on fossil fuels in larger countries like India and Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh can easily bring hydroelectricity from Nepal as it is only 40 miles from Bangladesh. Nepalese hydroelectricity will also be cheap," Prof Yunus said.

He urged the four countries -- Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan -- to consider establishing a South Asian power grid.

Yunus stressed that Bangladesh's top environmental priority was effective water management to prevent flooding and maximise water use for economic growth.

"Water is our main environmental issue. We have to do water management in a way that it supports nature," he said.

At the social business meeting, the chief advisor also discussed the Bangladesh government's focus on youth development and reforms in the education sector.

He announced plans for a youth festival in January, coinciding with the annual T20 BPL cricket tournament organised by the country's cricket board.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach are expected to attend the festival, with a women's football tournament also in the pipeline."We are trying to hold the festival in all parts of the country," he said.

He also spoke about the reform initiatives of the interim government and the mass uprising in July-August, which ended the 15-year rule of the Sheikh Hasina regime.

Yunus also discussed other key issues at COP29, including Bangladesh's ongoing negotiations over carbon credits.