Thu Nov 07 10:07:56 UTC 2024: ## Bangladesh Expedites Payment to Adani Power After Power Cuts

**New Delhi, India** – Facing a November 7th deadline from Indian energy giant Adani Power, Bangladesh has rapidly moved to settle a massive debt of over $800 million owed to the company. Adani Power had drastically reduced electricity exports to Bangladesh by more than half due to unpaid bills, according to two senior government officials.

Adani Power, owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, supplies electricity to Bangladesh from its 1,600 megawatt (MW) Godda plant in Jharkhand, India. The company cited challenges in importing coal for power generation as the reason for the payment deadline.

The power supply to Bangladesh was reduced from around 1,400 MW to 700-800 MW this month. Bangladesh has been struggling to pay its energy bills due to high fuel and goods import costs since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, and further strained by recent political turmoil.

The Bangladeshi government has already paid $96 million last month and opened a letter of credit for an additional $170 million this month, according to Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, the power and energy advisor in the interim Bangladesh government.

While Adani Power’s Chief Financial Officer, Dilip Kumar Jha, stated there were no issues with power supply to Bangladesh, a local media report confirmed Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) had halted half of its power supply due to outstanding bills of $846 million.

This news follows a period of increased scrutiny on the contract between Adani Power and Bangladesh, with concerns about the high cost of electricity charged by the Indian company. The situation highlights the economic challenges faced by Bangladesh and the complex energy dynamics in the region.

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