Fifth SAARC meeting concludes: Ministers finalise energy cooperation framework agreement

The fifth meeting of the energy ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) nations concluded here with the ministers assurance to get the framework agreement for energy co-operation approved from their respective governments so that it could be signed during the forthcoming SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in November 2014 in Kathmandu in Nepal.
This is a significant achievement of the ministers' two-day meeting, as this agreement has been pending since 2010 and is a crucial step towards developing a SAARC Market for Electricity (SAME) on a regional basis. India proposed to host the seminar on "Sharing Experiences on Energy Pricing Mechanism in the SAARC Region". India also proposed to host the second meeting of the expert group on technology, knowledge sharing (including energy efficiency, coal, etc) in 2015.
Bangladesh will convene the meeting of energy regulators/bodies in SAARC countries by December 2014. The meeting noted that all the four expert groups have already finalised their Terms of Reference and work plans and urged the lead member states to continue convening of expert group meetings regularly, preferably on annual basis.
The member states apprised the meeting of the initiatives taken with regard to renewable energy projects. The meeting referred the matter to the expert group on renewable energy for further deliberations. The meeting approved 8 reports of earlier meetings of the working group on energy, separate expert groups on electricity, technology and knowledge sharing, renewable energy and the reports of the inter-governmental meetings on "Study on South Asian Regional Power Exchange" organised by the ADB.
The Indian side presented two concept reports namely, "Framework for planning cross-border transmission links and associated system strengthening through joint system studies" and "Operation of stable and secure SAARC electricity grids". Bangladesh has also prepared the concept paper on "Structures, functions and institutional mechanisms for SAARC regulatory issues on electricity exchange/trade" and the same would be circulated among member states shortly. SAARC member states will offer their views on the concept papers by 31 December, 2014. The next meeting of the SAARC Energy Ministers will be held in Nepal.