GMS Sector Activities
Energy
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Subregional Electric Power Forum Terms of Reference.
| YEAR |
DATE |
ACTIVITY |
| 2006 |
31 July |
1st Planning and Consultation Workshop on the GMS Energy Strategy, Bangkok, Thailand |
13-16 June |
5th Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-5) |
| 2nd Meeting of the Focus Group (FG-2) of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC) |
| 1st Meeting of the Planning Working Group (PWG-1) of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC) |
| 12-13 January |
First Focal Group Meeting of Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC) |
| 2005 |
September |
Fourth Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-4) |
| April |
3rd Meeting of the Regional Power Trade
Coordination Committee (RPTCC-3) |
| 2004 |
December |
GMS Countries Set the Time Frame for Signing
the Power Trade Agreement and Agree to Expand Cooperation in
Energy, Bangkok, 1-2 December 2004 |
| December |
2nd
Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee Meeting
(RPTCC-2) |
| December |
Eleventh
Meeting of the Subregional Electric Power Forum (EPF-11) |
| July |
GMS Countries Formally Organize to Implement
Power Trade in the Subregion, Guilin, PRC, 13-14 July 2004 |
| 2003 |
November |
GMS Countries Chart Concrete Work Plan for
Developing Cross-Border Power Trade in the Subregion |
| June |
GMS Power Interconnection Meeting |
| 2002 |
October |
GMS Countries Prepare for the Next Steps
to Further Advance Regional Power Trade |
| May |
GMS Countries Close to Finalizing Both the
Master Plan on Power Interconnection and the Agreement on Power
Trade |
| 2001 |
December |
GMS Energy Officials and Experts Hold Back-to-back
Meetings in Hanoi, Viet Nam to Review Power Interconnection
Plans and to Finalize Power Trade Arrangements in the GMS |
| June |
GMS energy experts meet to review findings
of the ongoing Study on the Regional Indicative Master Plan
for GMS Power Interconnection, and to finalize the draft of
the Inter- Governmental Agreement on Power Trade |
| 2000 |
December |
Seventh
Meeting, 6 December 2000, Vientiane, Lao PDR |
| 1999 |
October |
Sixth
Meeting, 28-29 October 1999, Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
| 1998 |
December |
Fifth
Meeting, 11-12 December 1998, Bangkok, Thailand |
| 1997 |
December |
Fourth Meeting, 29-31 October 1997, Hanoi, Viet Nam |
| 1996 |
December |
Third Meeting, 12-13 December 1996, Kunming, Yunnan Province,
People's Republic of China |
| 1995 |
December |
Second Meeting, 12-13 December 1995, Vientiane, Lao PDR |
| April |
Inception Meeting, 24-25 April 1995, Yangon, Myanmar |
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other GMS sectors.
The First Meeting of the Planning Working Group (PWG-1) was held back-to-back with the Second Focal Group (FG-2) and Fifth Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-5) meetings in Siem Reap, Cambodia in June 2006. The meetings were co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The PWG-1 meeting agreed on the procedural arrangements and authorities (electing PRC and Thailand as chair and co-chair, respectively) and discussed the terms of reference for specific PWG tasks, agreeing to focus initially on the study on performance standards and transmission regulation, as well as the preparation and implementation of the training program. The FG-2 meeting, with PRC as chair, discussed the progress and endorsed the next steps proposed by the PWG-1 for priority RPTCC activities, namely, preparing the GMS power master plan, developing the power sector database and website, and formulating best practices for power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The RPTCC-5 meeting, with Lao PDR as chair, affirmed the work plan arising from the PWG and FG discussions on priority activities. In addition, the RPTCC-5 meeting noted the progress of various ongoing and planned ADB assistance to the GMS energy sector, namely:
- the GMS Power Transmission Line (PRC-LAO-THA)
- the GMS Power Interconnection Phase I (THA-LAO-VIE)
- GMS Power Interconnection Phase II (PRC-VIE)
- GMS Northern Power Transmission (LAO and THA)
The RPTCC-5 meeting endorsed the next steps for these projects as agreed during the project-specific meetings held just before the PWG-1 meeting. The RPTCC-5 meeting lauded the proposed assistance by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) on facilitating sustainable, environment-friendly regional power trading, which would complement the assistance to the RPTCC being provided by Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD). Finally, the RPTCC-5 held a session on lessons derived from developing regional energy markets in Southeast Europe, which aims to enable RPTCC members to better respond to the challenges they face in laying out the next stages for cross-border power trading. The GMS countries agreed that the next PWG/ FG meetings would be held later this year, possibly back-to-back with another RPTCC meeting with Lao PDR still as chair. It was agreed that Myanmar would chair the RPTCC starting in 2007.
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The Fourth Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-4) was held in Yangon last September and co-hosted by the Ministry of Electric Power (MOEP) of Myanmar and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The RPTCC-4 meeting successfully deliberated on key institutional arrangements for the Stage 1 of the Regional Power Trade Operating Agreement (RPTOA), particularly on the establishment of the Focal Group (FG), its terms of reference (TOR) and the associated capacity building plan. Discussions on the practices and experience for regional power trade in other regions provided lessons for the design of GMS regional power market arrangements.
Country presentations on RPTCC work plan activities led to substantive exchanges among GMS members on their respective power sector plans, and to affirmation of support for ADB-proposed TA projects on the energy sector strategy and the coordination and development of GMS power trade. Alternative routing via Southern Lao PDR would be explored for the GMS Power Interconnection project (Thailand- Lao PDR- Viet Nam), while follow-up work on the GMS Power Transmission Line project (PRC- Lao PDR- Thailand) would involve confirming economic viability and looking at benefit sharing and ownership models.
The meeting agreed to hold the Energy Sector Forum meeting back-to-back with the RPTCC-5 meeting in Cambodia in the 2nd quarter 2006 (originally scheduled December 2005) to allow coverage of the initial findings of the energy sector strategy study and the update of the regional master plan study. The development partners affirmed their support to GMS power cooperation particularly in the areas of institution building, database development and infrastructure construction. Please see attached minutes of the meeting for more details.
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The First Meeting of the Focal Group (FG-1) of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-) was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam in January 2006; this was co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry (MOI) of Viet Nam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The meeting reached important agreements to jump-start the FG program for promoting power trade arrangements, particularly with respect to: (i) appointing the authorities (chair, co-chair), (ii) agreeing on communication channels and procedures, (iii) prioritizing FG activities, and (iv) establishing the sub-groups for priority activities, particularly the Planning Working Group (PWG).
The Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) was appointed chair for the next two years, while ADB was appointed co-chair. Coordinators were appointed to take the lead in undertaking the work for the following priority activities agreed to by the FG members: Lao PDR for the additional work for developing best practices for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for regional power trade; PRC for developing and maintaining a regional database on the GMS region’s power sector; and Thailand for developing the Regional Master Plan, which would harmonize the generation and transmission plans of the individual GMS members, with eventual interconnection in mind. The GMS members agreed to hold the meeting on rotational basis, and agreed to hold the next FG meeting back to back with the RPTCC meeting in Cambodia in June 2006. Please see attached minutes of the meeting for more details.
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The Fourth Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-4) was held in Yangon last September and co-hosted by the Ministry of Electric Power (MOEP) of Myanmar and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The RPTCC-4 meeting successfully deliberated on key institutional arrangements for the Stage 1 of the Regional Power Trade Operating Agreement (RPTOA), particularly on the establishment of the Focal Group (FG), its terms of reference (TOR) and the associated capacity building plan. Discussions on the practices and experience for regional power trade in other regions provided lessons for the design of GMS regional power market arrangements.
Country presentations on RPTCC work plan activities led to substantive exchanges among GMS members on their respective power sector plans, and to affirmation of support for ADB-proposed TA projects on the energy sector strategy and the coordination and development of GMS power trade. Alternative routing via Southern Lao PDR would be explored for the GMS Power Interconnection project (Thailand- Lao PDR- Viet Nam), while follow-up work on the GMS Power Transmission Line project (PRC- Lao PDR- Thailand) would involve confirming economic viability and looking at benefit sharing and ownership models.
The meeting agreed to hold the Energy Sector Forum meeting back-to-back with the RPTCC-5 meeting in Cambodia in April/ May 2006 (originally scheduled December 2005) to allow coverage of the initial findings of the energy sector strategy study and the update of the regional master plan study. The development partners affirmed their support to GMS power cooperation particularly in the areas of institution building, database development and infrastructure construction. Read the minutes of the meeting for more details.
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The Third Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-3) was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 7-8 April 2005 and co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (MIH) of Lao PDR and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The RPTCC-3 meeting successfully deliberated on substantive improvements to the consultant's report on the study of the Regional Power Trade Operating Agreement (RPTOA), particularly on the institutional arrangements needed for initially implementing the RPTOA. The meeting's main outcome is the draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the guidelines for implementation of stage 1 of RPTOA. The MOU is expected to be finalized and signed by the time of the Second GMS Summit of Leaders in Kunming, PRC in July 2005.
The RPTCC-3 meeting also updated the RPTCC work plan which covers the prioritized areas and programs for the next three years. This work plan was fully supported by the development partners present during the meeting, and specific cooperation programs and financing arrangements to channel grant support to the work plan is currently being prepared. Please see attached minutes of the meeting for more details.
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The Second
Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-2) was held
Bangkok, Thailand on 1-2 December 2004 and co-hosted by the Energy Policy and
Planning Office of the Ministry of Energy of Thailand and the Asian Development
Bank (ADB).
The RPTCC-2 meeting, participated in by nominees from all GMS
member countries, discussed refinements to the consultant's report on the Regional
Power Trade Operating Agreement (PTOA) and agreed that out of a draft of the full
PTOA, an "Agreement on Basic Principles for Initiating Stage 1 of Regional Power
Trade" would be drafted by March 2005, targeted for signing during the Second
GMS Summit in July 2005.
The RPTCC- meeting also adopted the work plan
of the RPTCC, which includes creating the Technical Secretariat and other institutional
mechanisms at the appropriate time.
Read the summary
of proceedings of the RPTCC-2 meeting.
For the Eleventh Meeting of the Subregional Electric
Power Forum (EPF-11), the GMS representatives agreed to expand cooperation to
include other energy sub-sectors such as oil, gas, and renewable energy, in a
gradual manner as deemed necessary by the GMS members and agreed that the EPF
will henceforth be upgraded to the Energy Sector Forum (ESF).
The EPF-11
also agreed on criteria for prioritizing energy projects and programs in the GMS
development matrix, and to ensure early identification of projects in the matrix
to enhance the management of externalities arising from energy projects.
The
EPF participants also reiterated the importance of and need for expanded partnerships
with some development partners active in GMS energy work. Please see attached
minutes of the meeting for more details.
Read the summary
of proceedings of the EPF-11 meeting.
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The First Meeting of the Regional Power Trade
Coordination Committee (RPTCC-1) was held in Guilin, PRC, on 13-14 July 2004 and
co-hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and China Southern
Power Grid Co. (CSG) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and the Asian Development
Bank (ADB).
The establishment of the RPTCC was provided for by the Inter-Governmental
Agreement on Regional Power Trade (IGA), signed by all GMS countries in November
2002, to coordinate regional power trade in the GMS and more specifically, to
oversee the formulation and adoption of the Regional Power Trade Operating Agreement
(PTOA).
The PTOA will prescribe operational guidelines for technical coordination,
cross-border pricing and institutional framework for power trade in the GMS. At
the time of the RPTCC-1 meeting, five (5) GMS members have ratified the IGA, which
had been in force since three (3) countries have ratified the IGA. The meeting
elected the Chairperson (Mr. Wang Jun of PRC) and Vice Chairperson (Dr. Somboune
Manolom of Lao PDR) in accordance with the RPTCC guidelines, which were affirmed
during the meeting.
ADB was named Co-Vice Chairperson and Special Coordinator
to oversee the formulation of the PTOA until its adoption by the GMS members.
The RPTCC-1 came up with a draft RPTCC work plan, and discussed the Interim Report
of the "Study for a PTOA in the GMS". Comments during the meeting would provide
guidance in finalizing the PTOA report.
Read the RPTCC-1
Summary of Proceedings
Top
The 9th meeting of the Experts Group
on Power Interconnection and Trade (EGP-9) and the 10th meeting of the Subregional
Electric Power Forum (EPF-10), were held in Guangzhou, PRC on18-19 November 2003.
These back-to-back energy meetings were held to discuss the progress of GMS countries
in preparing their power systems for cross-border power transactions and to chart
the work plan for accelerating the development of the policy and institutional
framework for regional power trade. The meetings were co-hosted by China Southern
Power Grid Co. (CSG) of the PRC, the ADB and the World Bank.
The EGP-9 meeting
took stock of the power sector policy reforms and institutional restructuring
in the GMS countries, and promoted better understanding of long term sector investment
plans, financing needs and power tariffs as these relate to cross border transactions.
The EPF-10 meeting meanwhile, held a session on the Regional Power Trade Coordination
Committee (RPTCC) to follow up on the nomination of RPTCC members and the ratification
by GMS countries of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Regional Power Trade (IGA).
The RPTCC will supervise the formulation of the Regional Power Trade Operating
Agreement (PTOA), which will harmonize rules for technical coordination, cross-border
pricing and institutional arrangements for power trade; the PTOA will be formulated
under an ADB-funded technical assistance study. The energy meetings showed the
commitment of the GMS countries to move forward in developing the regional power
market, and reiterated the commitment of both the ADB and World Bank to support
both hard and soft aspects of GMS power market development. It was announced that
the next meeting would be held in Thailand.
View
the proceedings of EGP-9
View
the proceedings of EPF-10
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Back-to-back energy meetings were held in Yangon, Myanmar on
10-11 October 2002, to prepare the next steps to further advance regional power
trade in the GMS, after the expected signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement
on Regional Power Trade in the GMS (IGA) during the GMS Summit on 3 November 2002.
The meetings, the 8th for the Experts Group on Power Interconnection and Trade
(EGP-8) and the 9th for the Subregional Electric Power Forum (EPF-9), were co-hosted
by the Ministry of Electric Power (MOEP) of the Government of Myanmar, and the
ADB.
The EGP-8 meeting reviewed, and subsequently adopted, the guidelines
for the establishment of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC).
Under the RPTCC guidelines adopted by the EGP-8 meeting, the EPF would act as
the RPTCC until a more formal set-up is agreed upon entry into force of the IGA.
The role of the RPTCC is critical, being the regional body that will eventually
coordinate preparation of the study on the Regional Power Trade Operating Agreement
(PTOA). The PTOA is expected to provide the operational guidance for the conduct
of GMS power trade. The proposed PTOA study was well received by GMS members,
who all agreed on the composition of the Steering Committee, country coordinators
(from which PTOA Project Manager would be elected), team of counterpart staff
and the advisory panel. The EGP-8 meeting also took note of the progress of power
sector development in the GMS countries, which would contribute to enabling conditions
for future GMS power trade.
The EPF-9 meeting meanwhile, discussed the progress
towards the signing of the IGA and the EPF was requested to help expedite the
IGA ratification process by GMS members. Also during EPF, the World Bank team
presented the study for options in GMS future power market, focusing on the experiences
and lessons from the South American power market. The World Bank team then scheduled
consultation missions in each GMS country to determine the readiness of GMS members
for regional power trade. They were aided by disseminating a questionnaire to
collect the needed information on GMS members' power sector characteristics.
View
the entire proceedings of EGP-8
View
the entire proceedings of EPF-9
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GMS energy experts and officials
met in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 29-30 May 2002, to undertake the second review
of the draft Final Report of the study on the Regional Indicative Master Plan
on Power Interconnection in the GMS (the "Master Plan"). This was the seventh
meeting of the Experts Group on Power Interconnection and Trade (EGP-7), and co-hosted
by the National Energy Policy Office (NEPO) of Thailand and the ADB. The meeting
enabled the GMS countries to move closer to the final form of the Master Plan
with a consensus on the most realistic least cost generation and transmission
scenario for the subregion. The EGP further discussed and agreed on future next
steps for the Master Plan, including its updating, disclosure, and possible funding
for transmission interconnection sections identified in the Final Report.
Moreover,
the GMS energy experts and officials provided updates on their respective Governments'
actions to prepare for the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Regional
Power Trade (IGA). The signing of the IGA, tentatively scheduled during the 11th
GMS Ministerial Conference in Phnom Penh in September 2002, has since been moved
to the GMS Summit of Leaders on 3 November 2002. The IGA, which was being developed
with the support of the World Bank, would provide the overall framework and coordination
mechanisms to promote, and maximize benefits from power trade in the subregion.
Some GMS countries have indicated their readiness to sign the IGA, while the others
indicated some progress later, but all GMS members indicated they still needed
cabinet-level approval for the IGA.
The EGP-7 meeting also tackled the
initial draft guidelines for the establishment of the Regional Power Trade Coordinating
Committee (RPTCC), the high level body identified in the IGA, to actively coordinate
the implementation of regional power trade. It also discussed the initial components
of the study for the Regional Power Trade Operating Agreement (PTOA), such as
technical coordination and institutional framework. This will be synchronized
with the World Bank's study on options for the power market structure. To provide
more useful perspectives for power trade, representatives of the power industry
and donor community presented on existing arrangements for power interconnection
and trade.
View
Summary of Proceedings of EGP-7
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Energy experts and officials from the six countries
comprising the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) met in Hanoi, Viet Nam from 13 to
19 December for the back-to-back energy meetings under the GMS program. The meetings,
namely, the Sixth Meeting of the Experts Group on Power Interconnection and Trade
(EGP-6), and the Eighth Meeting of the Subregional Electric Power Forum (EPF-8),
were jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry of the Socialist Republic of
Viet Nam (SRV) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The EGP-6 meeting
reviewed the Draft Final Report of the Study
on the Regional Indicative Master Plan on Power Interconnection in the GMS
(the "Master Plan Study), which was undertaken to harmonize the subregion's transmission
planning and operational practices to promote power trade. The EGP-6 agreed that
after consideration of comments, which mainly concerned power demand/ supply options,
transmission development scenarios, institutional/ regulatory issues, and financing,
the Master Plan Study would be finalized in the EGP-7 meeting in mid-2002 in Bangkok.
The EGP-6 meeting also reviewed and finalized the revised work plan for 2002-2005,
which was generally in relation to implementation of the GMS Policy Statement
on Regional Power Trade ("Policy Statement"). Since the GMS Ministers endorsed
the Policy Statement during the 9th Ministerial Conference (Manila, January 2000),
the EGP has spearheaded the conduct of workshops to facilitate power interconnection
and trade with the assistance of the World Bank. Two workshops have already been
held, which dealt with the institutional, regulatory and commercial aspects of
power interconnection. The third workshop, on financing issues, was held in the
same venue right after the EGP-6 and EPF-8 meetings, from 17 to 19 December 2001.
For EPF-8, each GMS country presented developments in their power sector
policies and generation and transmission programs, which enabled each country
to check on the consistency of their power development plans, with the plans for
subregional power interconnection and trade. The EPF meeting also undertook a
thorough review of the Inter-Government Agreement on Power Trade (IGA-PT). The
IGA-PT, which was being developed with the support of the World Bank, would provide
the overall framework and coordination mechanisms to promote, and maximize benefits
from power trade in the subregion. After arriving at a consensus on the proposed
changes, the EPF-8 meeting adopted the draft IGA and submitted it for signing
in the 11th GMS Ministerial Conference in 2002.
View
Summary of Proceedings of EPF-8
View
Summary of Proceedings of EGP-6
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The fifth Meeting
of the Experts Group on Power Interconnection and Trade (EGP-5) was held in Kunming,
Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China (PRC) from 19 to 21 June 2001. The
EGP-5 meeting was held primarily to review the Interim Report of the Regional
Indicative Master Plan Study for GMS Power Interconnection and provide further
directions for the study, particularly on the assessments of the long-term demand
and its supply options for the Master Plan. It will be recalled that the study
is being undertaken to prepare the subregional transmission master plan and harmonize
transmission planning, design and operational practices to promote subregional
power trade. More specifically, the Master Plan Study includes assessment of GMS
power demand and generation and transmission plans, updating of power interconnections
based on revised forecasts, formulating an indicative master plan, and identifying
the institutional and regulatory issues for implementation.
During the
first two days of EGP-5 meeting, the consultants, M/s Norconsult of Norway, presented
findings of the Interim Report of the Master Plan, which included the demand and
supply options, potential interconnection candidates, technical coordination requirements,
and institutional and regulatory aspects. In each of these presentations, the
GMS delegates and members of the Advisory Panel provided numerous substantive
comments and additional information that were not covered by the Interim Report.
The discussions also provided opportunities for both consultants and GMS delegates
to agree on steps to facilitate the completion of the Master Plan Study. Also,
the GMS delegates submitted proposals for updating work plan of the EGP during
2002 - 2004 and it was agreed to solicit more proposals from the GMS members focusing
on the power sector activities with regional/ cross-border themes.
The
later part of the EGP-5 meeting was devoted to the review of the 4th draft of
the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Power Trade in the GMS (IGA-PT) under the
agreed Policy Statement at 1999. The IGA-PT, which is being developed with the
support of the World Bank, will provide the overall framework and coordination
mechanisms to promote power trade in the subregion that would maximize the benefits
from subregional power interconnection and trade. It was agreed that the draft
IGA-PT would be submitted to the forthcoming Subregional Electric Power Forum
(EPF) in November-or December 2001 for the endorsement at the GMS Ministerial
Meeting in 2002.
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the entire proceedings
Regions and Countries 