Rural electrification

In 1977 Bangladesh adopted the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) for the distribution of electricity to the rural areas and created the Rural Electrification Board (REB) for implementing it. The objective of the present REP is to provide affordable and reliable electricity to all by the year 2020. The REB works

closely together with 67 semi-autonomous bodies, the so-called electrification co-operatives or Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs). This organisation structure was copied from the rural electrification process in the United States in the first half of the previous century. The REB since its initiation has received

 assistance from the National Rural Electric Co-operative Association (NRECA), financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

From 1995 until 2000 the Netherlands supported the REP with programme funding. This assistance of USD 29 million was extended until 2003. After the introduction of the sector approach by the Netherlands, GoB suggested that the Netherlands would continue to support the REB. Since then, the Embassy has been exploring the possibility of the implementation of the sectoral approach in rural electrification. In the mean time, it is supporting the REB with one of their main programmes for the extension and intensification of the electricity grid with USD 36 million for the period 2002-2004.

Another part of developing a sector programme is the multi-joint co-financing of Technical Assistance (TA) to the REB. The Embassy is in the process of appraising completing this kind of assistance. Part of this assistance will be used for the drafting of a new master plan for Rural Electrification, the implementation of a gender equity mainstreaming strategy, the promotion of renewable energy resources, and other TA that is required for REB.