The Saarc member states are likely to sign an agreement on energy cooperation during the Saarc summit scheduled for November 26 and 27 in Kathmandu, with a view to secure sustainable energy supplies in South Asia.
“The deal titled Saarc Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation (Electricity) is expected to be inked by the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, India and Pakistan during the 18th Saarc Summit in the presence of their heads of states and governments,” a Foreign Ministry official said.
He said the countries would enable cross-border trade of electricity on a voluntary basis and it would depend on the laws, rules and regulations of the respective member states.
The official said the member states would encourage sharing of knowledge and joint research, including exchange of experts and professionals working in the sectors of power generation, transmission, distribution, energy efficiency, reduction of transmission and distribution losses, and development and grid integration of renewable energy resources.
“The member states will enable the transmission planning agencies of the governments to plan the cross-border grid interconnections based on the needs of the trade in the foreseeable future through studies and sharing technical information,” he said.
On November 10, the cabinet approved the draft of the agreement.
The Bangladesh delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka on November 25 for Kathmandu to attend the summit.
The agreement was finalised at the Fifth Saarc Energy Ministers’ Meeting.
The agreement has been pending since 2010 and is a crucial step towards developing a market for electricity in the region.
The process of regional cooperation in the energy sector among the Saarc member state began in January 2000 with the establishment of a technical committee on energy.