Electricity exports from Adani Power to Bangladesh have risen sharply in recent months, even as bilateral relations between the two neighbours remain strained and a Bangladesh government-appointed panel has flagged concerns over the cost of the supply.
Data from Indian and Bangladeshi government sources shows that power exports from Adani Power’s Godda coal-fired plant in Jharkhand increased by nearly 38% year-on-year to around 2.25 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) during the three months ended December. The rise highlights Bangladesh’s growing dependence on imported electricity to meet domestic demand.
Imports reach record share of Bangladesh’s power mix
The surge in supplies pushed India’s share of Bangladesh’s total electricity mix to a record 15.6% for the year, up from about 12% in 2024, according to Bangladesh government data. Adani Power began supplying electricity to Bangladesh in early 2023 under a long-term cross-border power agreement.
Despite political frictions, electricity trade between the two countries has continued to expand. India and Bangladesh have in recent months suspended visa services and summoned envoys amid security-related concerns at diplomatic missions, but these developments have not disrupted power flows.
Gas shortages driving higher power imports
Bangladesh’s growing reliance on imported electricity is largely due to domestic fuel constraints. Natural gas, the country’s primary power generation fuel, is in short supply as local production declines and infrastructure limits the effective use of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Bangladesh Power Development Board Chairman Rezaul Karim said power imports are essential to manage shortages and meet rising demand. He added that electricity demand is expected to grow by 6% to 7% in 2026, increasing pressure on the country’s energy system.
Coal imports rise as fuel mix shifts
To bridge the gap left by falling gas-based generation, Bangladesh is also increasing coal imports to boost output from coal-fired plants. Data from analytics firm Kpler shows coal imports jumped 35% in 2025 to a record 17.34 million metric tonnes.
The fuel shift is already visible in the country’s power mix. Gas-fired generation accounted for just 42.6% of total electricity output last year, its lowest share on record, compared with nearly two-thirds of generation during most of the past decade, according to government data.
Adani’s growing role in Bangladesh’s power supply
As gas-based output declined, Adani Power emerged as a key supplier. The company supplied a record 8.63 billion kWh of electricity to Bangladesh in 2025, accounting for about 8.2% of the country’s total power supply. Imports from other Indian power producers remained relatively small, at around 7.92 million kWh.
During the first 27 days of January, Adani Power’s supplies accounted for roughly 10% of Bangladesh’s total electricity consumption, Bangladesh power grid data showed.
Cost concerns remain, but alternatives are limited
While a Bangladesh government-appointed panel has raised concerns over the pricing of Adani’s electricity, experts note that imported coal-based power remains cheaper than running oil-fired power plants, which are often used during shortages.
“Adani electricity is still cheaper than oil-fired electricity. Because of shortages, Bangladesh has to use oil-fired power plants,” said Ijaz Hossain, an independent energy expert based in Dhaka.
With fuel constraints expected to persist in the near term, analysts say Bangladesh is likely to continue relying on a mix of imported electricity and higher coal usage, even as it reviews the cost structure of cross-border power agreements.