India

The first project expected under that Pakistan's initiative to medernize power plants is a 750-megawatt combined-cycle plant in Guddu. It would feature advanced technology F-class gas turbines from GE.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Faruk Khan urged Canadian businessmen to invest more in the power sector to help alleviate the country's energy crunch.

The Himachal Pradesh government would set up two hydro power engineering colleges in Shimla and Bilaspur districts.

Pakistan is expected to complete a pilot project, which will generate electricity from the Thar Coal project through gasification this year.

Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Gennady P. Trotsenko said Russia is keen to support Bangladesh to develop its power sector.

Bangladesh is planning to frame a separate policy to protect poor peoples' right to energy.

Bangladesh government has awarded a Spanish firm over US$14.08 million project to build transmission line from Baharampur of India to Bheramara. It will be used to import electricity from India.

India's Union finance ministry has approved the creation of a US$11.053 billion National Electricity Fund to attract investments in the distribution sector.

 A civil nuclear power trade delegation of eight leading UK-based companies is visiting India.

The ministry of environment and forests approved the 4000 MW Bedabahal ultra mega power project in Odisha. It clears the road for the power ministry to award the project.

Steel Authority of India is at talks with Japanese and Korean firms to produce value-added CRGO and CRNO steel. It has an over US$2.5 billion market, entirely met through imports now.

Indian equipment makers fear they would lose out to Chinese rivals as firms place orders only with tough conditions that add costs to their supplies. Among them are Larsen & Toubro and Gammon-Ansaldo, who hope to rival BHEL in India’s power equipment market.

OPTC Limited is worried that BHEL's laxity at its 726.6 MW gas based combined cycle power project at Pallatana, Tripura, can hamper the progress on site.

ADB has approved the award of contract for the associated HVDC package by Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited.

ADB will provide Turkish utility Zorlu Enerji Electrik Uretim with a $36.8 million loan to increase the capacity of a wind farm in Pakistan.

Out of the total 67079.74 million units of energy generated in India, excluding generation from renewable sources and captive power plants, a total of  6183.94 MU, or 9.22%, were transacted in the short-term.