11th Meeting of SAREP Task Force-1 on ‘Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Cross Border Electricity Trade’
The 11th Meeting of the South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) Task Force-1 (TF-1) convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 9 and 10, 2023, marking a significant step towards fostering cooperation and collaboration among South Asian nations to enhance Cross-Border Electricity Trade (CBET) through coordination/harmonisation of policies, legal frameworks, and regulatory mechanisms essential for advancing CBET.
The key objective of TF-1 is harmonization of policy, legal and regulatory issues for the fair allocation of costs and risks through conducive policies and legal and regulatory instruments, in order to create the enabling systemic conditions for a sustainable market for implementation and expansion of CBET projects.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. M P D U K Mapa Pathirana, Ministry of Power, Government of Sri Lanka and representative from Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka actively participated in the meeting.
CBET will ensure a reliable and diversified energy supply while contributing to economic growth, energy security, and environmental sustainability of South Asia Region. The meeting brought together representatives and experts from various South Asian governments, reaffirming the commitment of the region to fostering energy cooperation through CBET, enhance mutual understanding and sharing of experiences. Mr. M P D U K Mapa Pathirana, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Sri Lanka, commenced the meeting with a keynote address. Mr. Pathirana underscored the significance of such collaborative platforms, emphasizing that they offer invaluable opportunities for Sri Lanka to glean insights from the experiences of neighbouring countries and accelerate its own journey toward a sustainable energy future.
A central focus of the meeting was the examination of existing legal and regulatory frameworks governing CBET. Task Force members engaged in comprehensive discussions to identify areas of harmonization and cooperation to streamline cross-border energy exchanges.
The 11th TF-1 meeting discussed and deliberated upon a) Cross Border Electricity Trade, Regional Energy Cooperation and Emerging Regional Perspective for South Asia b) existing policy, legal and regulatory framework for CBET and need for harmonization /coordination through conducive policies, legal and regulatory instruments, suggestions on any needed change in policies, legal and regulatory frameworks c) long Term Cross Border Energy Policy and Regulatory expectations/perspectives for sustainable Cross Border Energy Trade and regional energy market. d) country Updates on Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Cross Border Electricity Trade e) recap of the terms of reference of the SAREP Task Force -1 on “ Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Cross Border Electricity Trade f) Updates on the planned Interventions of the SAREP Task Force-1 on “Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for CBET g) Terms of Reference of the TF-1 knowledge studies on 1) Long Term Regional Cross Border Energy Policy & Regulatory Vision (RCEPRV) as a future outlook with a 25 to 30-year time horizon, in consultation with policy makers, regulators for long term sustainability of CBET based on common principles 2) Developing Regional Dispute Settlement Framework and Mechanism for Advancing Cross Border Electricity Trade in South Asian Region and 3) Regional Policy and Regulatory Framework Electricity Market Monitoring and Oversight and h) Ideas/ new activities under Task Force-1 to meet the key objective of TF-1.
The insights from participating nations enriched the discussion and paved the way for possible policy, regulatory and legal improvements to enhance cross-border electricity trade. The session also encompassed deliberations on various Knowledge studies of the Task Force-1 (KSTF-1).
The Task Force-1 member also undertook a Technical Visit to the Victoria Hydro Power Plant (210 MW), the largest power station in Sri Lanka.
As the next step SAREP will initiate the process for the conducting the TF-1 Knowledge Studies (KS) and organise the Task Force-1 meeting on regular intervals, preferably on quarterly basis.
Agenda:
Presentations:
- Cross Border Electricity Trade, Regional Energy Cooperation & Future Outlook for South Asia
- Bangladesh Updates on Coordination of Policies, Legal & Regulatory Frameworks for CBET
- Bhutan Updates on Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Framework
- Nepal Updates on Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Framework
- Sri Lanka Updates on Coordination of Policies, Legal and Regulatory Framework
- Updates on the planned Interventions of the SAREP Task Force-1
- TOR of the TF-1 Knowledge Study “Long Term Regional Cross Border Energy Policy & Regulatory Vision (RCEPRV) as a future outlook with a 25 to 30-year time horizon for long term Sustainability of CBET based on Common Principles”
- TOR of the TF-1 Knowledge Study on “Developing Regional Dispute Settlement Framework, Mechanism and associated procedure for Advancing Cross Border Electricity Trade in South Asian Region”
- TOR of the TF-1 Knowledge Study “Regional Policy and Regulatory Framework For Electricity Market Monitoring and Oversight”
- Ideas-new activities under TF-1 Coordination of Policies, Legal & Regulatory Frameworks for CBET
