Projects

	Table of Contents
p. 3 of 9 BACK | NEXT Home Background Energy Challenges in GMS Rationale for a Regional Strategy Objective and Scope Methodology Cost and Financing News and Events Project Team

Energy Challenges in GMS

The challenges facing the GMS in the energy sector are not unique: high economic growth of the region is driving the demand for energy whereas almost 50 million people in the GMS lack access to electricity at present.

Energy security is an important policy concern for the region given the high oil prices, combined with heavy dependence on fossil fuels. There are also environmental and social costs associated with meeting this rapidly rising energy demand. There is a need to integrate environmental sustainability issues in the design of energy strategy so as to reduce overall cost of energy for the region. The large potential to enhance efficiency of energy use at multiple levels, not only for the commercial fuels, but also for traditional sources such as biomass need to be actually realized.