PGCB: Bangladesh Power Grid and Transmission Network — Infrastructure Roadshow 2025
PGCB (Power Grid Company of Bangladesh) is the state-owned company managing Bangladesh's national transmission grid. The PGCB presentation at Infrastructure Roadshow 2025 outlined an $8B+ program encompassing 2,500 km of 400kV ultra-high voltage transmission line expansion, construction and GIS conversion of 30 substations, SCADA/EMS modernization, and international interconnection projects with India, Nepal, and Myanmar.
Bangladesh has 25,000MW of installed generation capacity, but transmission bottlenecks limit actual dispatchable supply to 15,000MW. PGCB's core goals are to reduce transmission losses from 2.5% to 1.8% by 2030 and to establish a 400kV backbone grid. Korean firms — Korea Power, Korea Electric Co, and Korea Hyosung Heavy Industries — hold strong competitive positions in GIS, transformers, and SCADA.
25,000MW
Installed Generation
2025 basis
180+
Substations
Nationwide
14,000km
Existing Lines
132–230kV primary voltage
2,500km
New 400kV Lines
Construction plan through 2030
$8B+
Total Investment
Through 2030
2.5%
Transmission Loss Rate
Target 1.8% by 2030
30 sites
GIS Substations
Focused on Dhaka and Chittagong
3,000MW
International Interconnection
India and Nepal import target
400kV Transmission Network Expansion ($3.5B)
PGCB will upgrade its current 132kV/230kV-dominated transmission system to 400kV ultra-high voltage to secure large-scale power transport capacity. By 2030, 2,500 km of 400kV lines will be built across three corridors — north, east, and west — financed by ADB, JICA, and the World Bank. Substation sections linked to EDCF tied financing enable Korean firms to participate directly.
PGCB 400kV Transmission Line Construction Program
| Project | Voltage | Section | Length | Financing | Budget | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Trunk Line | 400kV | Bogra – Rangpur | 150km | ADB | $600M | 2027 |
| Eastern Trunk Line | 400kV | Chittagong – Cox's Bazar | 180km | JICA | $700M | 2028 |
| Western Trunk Line | 400kV | Kushtia – Jessore | 130km | WB | $500M | 2029 |
| Southern Reinforcement | 230kV | Barisal and Patuakhali | 200km | EDCF | $400M | 2026 |
| India Interconnection | 400kV | Bangladesh–India (Benapole) | 50km | ADB | $300M | 2027 |
| Nepal Interconnection | 400kV | Bhomra–Sunauli (planned) | 100km | ADB | $400M | 2030 |
Substation GIS Modernization and SCADA Upgrade
PGCB will convert 30 urban substations to GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) to reduce land footprint by 70% and lower maintenance costs. Simultaneously, protection relays at all national substations will be replaced with IEC 61850-based digital units, and SCADA/EMS systems will be modernized to build a real-time power system monitoring and control infrastructure.
01
GIS Substation Introduction — 30 Sites ($1.5B)
GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) substations will be installed in land-constrained urban areas of Dhaka and Chittagong. Compared to conventional AIS, GIS cuts site area by 70% and maintenance costs by 40%. Korea Power, Korea Electric Co, and Korea Power Systems Industries hold GIS manufacturing capability from 72.5kV to 500kV. Procurement will combine ADB ICB and EDCF tied contracts.
02
SCADA/EMS Integrated Modernization ($500M)
SCADA and Energy Management Systems (EMS) for real-time monitoring and control of the national transmission grid will be comprehensively upgraded. New capabilities include distributed generation integration, renewable energy interconnection, and international link management. Korea Power and KEPCO KDN hold competitive power IT capabilities in this space.
03
Digital Protection Relay Replacement ($300M)
Electromechanical protection relays at 180+ substations will be replaced en masse with IEC 61850-based digital units. Requirements include sub-30ms fault detection speed, remote configuration capability, and historical data logging. Korea Electric Co and Korea Power Systems Industries' digital protection relays are well-suited.
04
International Interconnection Substation Construction ($800M)
New border interconnection substations and HVDC/FACTS equipment will be built to enable power imports from India (3,000MW) and Nepal (1,000MW). SVC and STATCOM devices for grid stabilization will be required. Korea Power Systems Industries and Korea Power hold HVDC auxiliary technology applicable to these requirements.
Korean Power Equipment Competitiveness Analysis
Korean Firms vs. Competitors by Segment
GISKorea Power, Korea Electric Co vs. ABB, Siemens (European strength)
TransformersKorea Electric Co, Korea Power Systems Industries vs. ABB, Siemens
SCADA/EMSKorea Power, KEPCO KDN vs. ABB, GE, Siemens
CablesKorea Cable, Taihan Electric Wire vs. Prysmian, Nexans
Entry Strategy by Financing Source
EDCF TiedSouthern substations, partial GIS — Korean firms direct contract
ADB ICBNorthern and international interconnection — technical and price competition required
JICA ICBEastern transmission lines — Japanese competitors strong; differentiation essential
WB ICBWestern transmission lines — fully open competition; leverage KEPCO references
PGCB Project Korean Firm Participation Priority
| Segment | Firm | Financing | Scale | Competition Level | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIS Substations (EDCF) | Korea Power, Korea Electric Co | EDCF tied | $400M | Low | ★★★★★ |
| Large Transformers | Korea Electric Co, Korea Power Systems Industries | ADB ICB | $300M | Medium | ★★★★ |
| SCADA/EMS | Korea Power, KEPCO KDN | ADB/WB ICB | $200M | Medium | ★★★★ |
| XLPE HV Cables | Korea Cable, Taihan Electric Wire | ADB ICB | $400M | Medium | ★★★ |
| Digital Protection Relays | Korea Electric Co | ADB/WB ICB | $150M | High | ★★★ |
International Power Interconnection Projects
India and Nepal Power Import Plans
India Import Target3,000MW — Benapole 400kV interconnection (ADB)
Nepal Import Target1,000MW — Bhomra interconnection (ADB, 2030 target)
Korean OpportunityInterconnection substation GIS, HVDC auxiliary equipment, SCADA
NoteAdvance review of Indian and Nepali standards (IS/NRS) required
Renewable Energy Grid Integration
Solar Integration1,500MW rural solar grid integration (GCF financing)
Offshore Wind1,000MW offshore wind (Chittagong coast; under review)
Korean OpportunityGrid stabilization SVC, STATCOM, and ESS systems
Core TechnologiesFACTS devices, battery ESS, bidirectional inverters
PGCB Bid Preparation Checklist
| Preparation Item | Content | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Record Documentation (English) | Document KEPCO GIS and transformer delivery history | Immediately | Include IEC certificates |
| IEC Standards Certification | IEC 62271 (GIS), IEC 60076 (transformers) | 3–6 months | Required to pass PGCB pre-qualification |
| PGCB Visit | Technical proposal meeting; build engineer-level trust | 2025 Q2 | KOTRA attends jointly |
| Korea Eximbank Consultation | Advance consultation with EDCF team | 2025 Q2 | EDCF tied project registration |
| Local Partner Identification | Contract with Bangladeshi electrical contractors and agents | 2025 Q3 | Verify financial soundness |
Entry Process and Core Strategy
Build PGCB Relationship
Infrastructure Roadshow networking; connect with PGCB technical officials through KOTRA Dhaka Trade Office
→↓
Prioritize EDCF Tied Projects
Advance consultation on southern substation and GIS package EDCF tied financing; Korea Eximbank consultation
→↓
ICB Technical Proposal
Bid on ADB, JICA, and WB ICB projects with technical proposals grounded in KEPCO references
→↓
Form Consortium
Build Korean power equipment consortium (GIS + SCADA + cables) for package contract strategy
→↓
Long-Term O&M Contract
Secure maintenance and parts supply contracts after equipment delivery; local technician training
DESCO Dhaka Power Distribution PresentationDhaka urban distribution grid modernization projects
BREB Rural Electrification PresentationRural distribution grid expansion and smart meter deployment
PGCBPower SystemTransmission NetworkSubstationInfrastructure Roadshow
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