26th October 2021, delhi

This webinar is second in the four-part series being organized by USAID’s South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration (SARI/EI) program, currently being implemented by IRADe, focused on the broad theme of “Accelerating Cross Border Energy Trade to Transition towards an Energy Secure South Asia”, in partnership with Power Line, the leading energy magazine in South Asia.

This webinar seeks to emphasise the importance of creating a vibrant regional power market for the mutual benefit of all the South Asian nations, as has been proved in many other parts of the world.

As a part of the regional power market, a regional power exchange in South Asia would facilitate benefit from the daily demand diversities and sporadic demand-supply mismatch at the geographical level, for optimum utilization of power resources in the Region. A regional power market would also enable contracts on barter of power on a seasonal and hourly basis. Once the regional power market is agreed in principle, this would expedite the development of a commensurate transmission system.

We are hoping that, during the course of the discussion, the following questions will be addressed:

• What role can a regional power market play in enhancing energy security in South Asia?
• What steps need to be taken to facilitate the formation of a regional power market in South Asia?
• What are the key challenges and issues? How can they be addressed?

Speakers include:

• Mohammad Hossain, Director General – Power Cell, Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, Bangladesh
• Dawa Chhoedron,Chief Engineer – Power Systems Division, Department of Hydropower and Power Systems, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan
• Ghanshyam Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India
• Rajesh Mediratta, Director Strategy & Regulatory Affairs, Indian Energy Exchange, India
• Prabal Adhikary, Director, Power Trade Department, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal
• Sugath Dharmakeerthi, Additional Secretary (GT&D), Ministry of Power, Sri Lanka
• Stephen Dihwa, Executive Director, Southern African Power Pool Coordination Centre

The webinar will have representation from people responsible for market policy, regulation, market players and facilitators, i.e. Governments, regulators, sellers (generation utilities, power traders), buyers (distribution utilities, power traders, power exchanges, etc. We will also have international speakers sharing their experiences.