21 October 2016 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Purpose
To help policymakers and planners learn about and share knowledge on cross-border power trading in South Asia covering the following:
- Governance and policy
- Economics of cross-border power trade
- Potential of non-conventional power trading
- Technical integration
- Building institutional capacity
- Financial considerations.
Background
Electrification coverage in South Asia ranges from a low of 40% to a high of 90% with most countries relying on one predominant form of energy while leaving other resources untapped. This dependence on a single source limits solutions to meeting energy demands and poses a significant risk to energy security. Furthermore, the region’s economic growth is hindered and the supply-demand gap for electricity is exacerbated. Establishment of a regional power trading market, or indeed any cross-border power trading arrangement, would address the issue as it could leverage each country’s strengths and help countries to complement each other in meeting current and future energy demands. Energy trading would allow more optimal utilization of resources, improved regional energy security and reliability, and increased economic efficiency. For instance, the potential excess capacity of hydropower in Bhutan and Nepal may be exported to higher-demand countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
This potential in South Asian cross-border power trade is currently limited by various political, financial, commercial, and technical issues, as well as the lack of regional cooperation. Hard infrastructure such as energy transmission facilities and soft infrastructure such as regulatory frameworks and trade facilitation mechanisms are absent. Uncertainties related to political, legal, and regulatory factors increase the financial and commercial risks and hamper the development of infrastructure. Technical issues such as power system planning, harmonization of operation standards and codes, as well as lack of awareness of these subjects, also need to be addressed.
Objectives
To bring together experts and government officials and provide an orientation on cross-border power trading in South Asia.
Participants
Policymakers from 8 South Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Participant responsibilities
Attendance and active participation in all sessions.
Output
- Shared knowledge and experience on cross-border power trading in South Asia based on the complementarities that exist in the region
- Greater understanding of the risks that impede the progress of power trading in South Asia such as geopolitical, financial & commercial and technical risks
- Identification of good case examples of regional power trading
- Creation a knowledge sharing and discussion platform for participants and draft a way forward to promote cross-border power trading and regional cooperation in South Asia
- Development of presentation materials for the ADBI website.
How to register
By invitation only.
Language
English
Partner
The Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance (IPAG)
Time of event
09:00 – 18:00