Importance of cross-border power trade highlighted

Chairman National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Brigadier Tariq Saddozai (retired) hinted on Wednesday at the possibility of Central Asia South Asia (CASA) 1000 project being extended to India. He was addressing a two-day (22-23 September) third Saarc Energy Regulators'' Meeting held in Islamabad and attended by all SAARC member countries.
"Outside the region Pakistan is importing 100MW from Iran for supply of electricity to its coastal area. Further, CASA project would enable Afghanistan and Pakistan to import 1300MW electricity from Central Asian countries. There can be a possibility of CASA being extended to India. Pakistan has also submitted a draft MoU to India on importing 1200MW of electricity," he added. He said, presently some of the Member States are already involved in cross border electricity trade within the region.
India and Bangladesh are interconnected through an HVDC line that can support electricity export of up to 500MW (expandable to 1000MW in future). Nepal imports 5MW electricity from India from multiple interconnections, which is projected to be increased to 150 MW. India is importing up to 1200MW from Bhutan.
Secretary Cabinet, in his inaugural speech welcomed the delegates and said that SAARC member states are struggling with a massive gap in demand and supply. There is a need to address energy security from a regional perspective. He argued that to achieve regional co-operation "we have to take various factors into account including the high investment cost, private participation, environment, affordability and right of way".
Director, SAARC Secretariat, Ali Haider Altaf opened the meeting of the SAARC Energy Regulators and in accordance with the SAARC practice, the leader of the delegation of the host country, Chairman NEPRA, was elected as Chairperson of the SAARC Energy Regulators Meeting. Delegations of participating states presented their papers on the existing Regulatory Mechanisms, Rules, Methodologies and Processes of respective Member States.
Tariq Saddozai, Chairperson of the Saarc Energy Regulators'' Meeting, in his speech stressed on the need for co-operation for the development of efficient conventional and renewable energy resources, strengthening of related transmission systems and cross-border electricity trade for sustainable development of member states. He said Pakistan is already importing 100MW from Iran and CASA project would enable Afghanistan and Pakistan to import 1300MW electricity from Central Asian countries. Pakistan has also submitted a draft MoU to India on import of 1200MW of electricity. He added that the Nepra Act envisages open access to transmission and distribution systems and Nepra Interim Power Procurement Regulations have been framed to allow foreign generation companies to sell electricity to power purchasers.
The power sector in Pakistan is in transition towards a competitive regime which is targeted to be achieved by 2020. The Government of Pakistan has established one-window facilitators such as PPIB and AEDB to encourage private sector investment in electricity generation. While the power sector has witnessed success stories the road that lies ahead is beset with challenges and as per Sadozai "we believe that SAARC countries are facing similar issues. There is need for alternative energy to offset dependence on imported and expensive fuels. Saarc Framework Agreement emphasises mutual co-operation on development of efficient conversational and renewable energy resources, energy efficiency and energy conservation, sharing of knowledge and promoting competition. Joint research, reduction of losses and grid integration for renewable energy are low hanging fruits we can all benefits from each other on these subject. We have benefited from the experience of SAARC member states for determining tariff of HVDC line and received excellent feedback from member states thorough SARRC Energy Centre."
Saarc Energy Regulators'' Meeting is a drive by energy regulators representing all SAARC member countries to harmonise the Regulations, Codes and Standards relating to transmission and distribution of electricity and synchronise their regulatory frameworks for cross-border electricity trade. Given the importance of regional energy co-operation and promotion of cross-border electricity trade in the Saarc region the meeting is an important milestone in reviewing the implementation status of Saarc Plan of Action on Energy Regulations (Electricity).
Delegates who attended the meeting are Mujtaba Yaseen , First secretary , High Commission, Afghanistan, Najmul Huda Dy. High Commissioner, High Commission, Bangladesh, Thukten Wangmo, Chief (Monitoring Division) from Bhutan Electricity Authority, Raghuram , First Secretary, High Commission, India, Ahmed Mujabta, First Secretary /Dy. Head of Mission, High Commission, Maldives, Ambu Bhawani karki, Member, Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission, Nepal, C.N. Saliya W. Mathew, Chairman , Public Utilities Commission, Sri Lanka and Garmini Hearath, Deputy Director General, public Utilities Commission, Sri Lanka.