The World Bank (WB) has extended support to the government for raising its capacity for ensuring power-sector development through present power shortages.

The global lender through a Power Sector Development Technical Assistance (PSDTA) Project will help strengthen the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, power and gas service providers and the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), says a WB press release.

The project has contributed to improvements in power sector policies and institutional capacity within the Power Cell, the power and gas utilities, and the BERC.

The project has also undertaken key gas sector studies and formulated gas sector master plan. These studies have enhanced the abilities of Petrobangla and gas utilities to better formulate policies and plans in the sector.

The BERC also has strengthened capability on licensing, tariff setting and other regulatory issues due to technical support from the project.

Prior to project closing on December 31, 2012, a WB team and the government reviewed the progress of the project and found a few critical contracts yet to be completed.

The government has sought continued support to complete the unfinished agenda of PSDTA. The World Bank has allocated a $ 5 million technical assistance support under the recently approved Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy (RERED)-II project to complete the unfinished components.

The WB has also started preparation of an implementation completion and results report (ICR) to provide a full assessment of the implementation performance of PSDTA, reflecting project results and the lessons learnt.