SAARC energy ministers finalise framework

FE Team | Published: October 18, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (Agencies): The much-expected SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) has been finalised in the fifth SAARC energy ministers' meeting here. The two-day meeting concluded here today with the assurance of ministers of SAARC countries to get the Framework Agreement approved by their respective governments so that it could be signed during the forthcoming SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in November, 2014 in Kathmandu, Nepal, it was said at a post-meeting press conference.
Indian coal and power minister Piyush Goyal, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources of Bangladesh Nasrul Hamid and power ministers of Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan attended the press conference. Pakistan refrained from attending the meeting.
Terming the meeting successful, Indian power minister said finalisation of the framework agreement is a landmark progress in energy cooperation in the SAARC region.
Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh is a power-hungry country and if the framework agreement is implemented, Bangladesh will be able to solve its power crisis to a large extent.
Hamid said he had separate successful meetings with India, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives on the sidelines.
During the meeting with his Indian counterpart, Hamid urged India to export 1000MW more power to Bangladesh and India responded positively and assured him of enhancing the capacity of the grid to 3000MW.
Besides, India has also agreed to supply 500MW more power daily through Bahrampur-Bheramara Grid Line. India is currently giving Bangladesh 500MW daily through this grid.
During the meeting India said hydroelectric power generated in its north-eastern region could be transmitted via Bangladesh to other SAARC countries.
India energy Minister Piyush Goyal floated the idea at the 5th SAARC power ministers' meeting.
He said hydroelectric power generated in North East India could be transmitted to Afghanistan via Bangladesh, India and Pakistan or offshore wind projects could be set up in Sri Lanka's coastal borders to power Pakistan or Nepal.
Goyal also called for building a SAARC power grid so that excess production of power in one region can easily be used to meet deficit elsewhere.
"Rivers can flow only in one direction, but power can flow in the direction of our choice. I dream of a seamless SAARC power grid within the next few years and this will not only strengthen the economic ties among the SAARC nations but also deepens the people to people relationship," the minister said.
The power minister further stated that the economic sustainability of SAARC region was pillared on energy security as 30 per cent of the region's energy demands were met through power imports.
He advocated a three-pronged strategy by harnessing conventional and renewable sources of energy, building inter-connected transmissions grids and forging efficacious power trading agreements.
"SAARC is a robust market but constraints are primarily on the supply side as there are pockets where deficits persist," he said.
Giving details of intra-SAARC linkages established in the recent past, Goyal mentioned about 1450 MW power exchange between India and Bhutan, 500 MW between India and Bangladesh and 150 MW between India and Nepal.
He urged the member states to develop more such interconnections and offered India's help to enhance production capacity so that member countries become exporters in the region.
"Our government recognises the enormous potential of SAARC nations and we believe SAARC can be regional economic powerhouse," he said.